FAITH — The Walk for Heroes will be held in Faith this year, after the Faith Board of Aldermen voted to allow the organization to utilize the Faith American Legion Park to hold the walk.

For the past two years, the organization has held an event in Salisbury which aims to raise awareness about the trauma suffered by first responders, dispatchers, front-line medical professionals and veterans throughout the community as well as honoring those same professions.

Walk for Heroes President Brenda Feathers spoke to the aldermen during the meeting on Tuesday and said they were looking to move the event to Faith in an effort to increase its turnout, adding that the turnout rate had not been as high as hoped in 2024.

“This year, we would like to move it to Faith for various reasons. One of those reasons is because Faith seems to have lots and lots of support from the veterans and the community. And, I love working with the veterans in Faith, so we’re going to give Faith a try and see if that would work,” said Feathers.

Feathers said that the organization was looking to hold the event on Sept. 6, and asked the aldermen to allow them to use the park behind town hall. The group would host speakers at the stage and vendors on site with information about resources available to veterans, first responders, dispatchers and front-line medical professionals.

Mayor Randall Barger said that the town would help the event by creating a two-person committee to work with Walk with Heroes and by spreading the word.

“We want to make it a huge event, and we’re really pushing it during the Fourth of July, really make sure everybody is aware of it,” said Barger.

The Mission of the Walk for Heroes is to assist those at high risk of being exposed to trauma, with an emphasis being on veterans, first responders, dispatchers and front-line medical professionals. Helping them obtain evidence based, self-administered techniques to process and heal from traumatic experiences; and therefore, decrease the risk of developing PTSD and lowering their suicide rates.

After Feathers’s presentation, the members of the board voted unanimously to allow Walk for Heroes to use the park.