The Kentucky National Guard and Surviver Outreach Services will host a riverboat cruise Sunday in Newport for at least 600 Gold Star Family members. Gold Star Families are those who lost a family member in the military on active duty in the line of duty. One of the organizers is David Orange, who said there will be good times and good fellowship aboard the Belle of Cincinnati.
“Those folks will be put on board and just a cruise up and down the Ohio, meal and entertainment, face painting for the kids, arts and crafts. You know, a little bit of everything. So just a fun time.”
The event is free for Gold Star Family members. Orange said the cruise on the Belle of Cincinnati is a way to say thanks to survivors – and it won’t be the only free event for Gold Star Family members Sunday.
“We have 10 boats going out across the country, this same day on May 11th, 10 locations everywhere from South Charleston, South Carolina, to the west, Portland, Oregon, and all in between.”
Orange said it’s the 9th annual Gold Star Cruise. He says many Gold Star Family members have bonded over the years, and the get-togethers are like family reunions.
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