The members of the Regional National Cemetery Improvement Corp. send their sincere thanks and appreciation to the many sponsors, donors, runners and support volunteers that made the fi fth annual Veterans Memorial 5K Race on Nov. 9 a sterling success. The proceeds of the race help to support the corporation’s missionof purchasing land adjacent to the Fayetteville National Cemetery, clearing the land and then donating it to the Department of Veterans Affairs so the national cemetery will have suftcient land to continue to receive veterans for burial.
The all-volunteer RNCIC has been active since 1984 and through its land purchases hasmore than tripled the size of the original fi ve acres of cemetery land.
Following the 5K race, Lt.
Col. Ron Butler, president of the RNCIC, presented a donation of 2.3 acres to the VA for further expansion of the cemetery.
The Fayetteville National Cemetery is listed in the National Register of Historic Places and has been declared a national shrine, for which we canall be proud. The race would not be possible without the support of our local businesses who have been loyal sponsors and donors every year. Special thanks go to our runners and support volunteers who make the race a colorful and exciting time for all.
MERLE WILLIAMS
RNCIC vice president
Farmington
Opinion, Pages 12 on 12/15/2013