On Saturday, May 19, Folds of Honor is partnering with clothing retailer Southern Tide to raise money to provide educational scholarships to the children and spouses of fallen or disabled soldiers.
Stand to Honor, a nationwide event, will take place locally from 10:13 a.m. to 5:13 a.m. at the Raleigh Southern Tide located in the North Hills shopping center. Participants will stand in 13-minute increments to represent the 13 folds of an American flag given to the families of a fallen soldier.
“There will be a box set up directly outside our store, where the people who want to stand can stand, holding one of the folded flags,” said Catherine Cottingham, manager at the Raleigh Southern Tide. “We just ask that they stand in silence to remember the people who have fallen and also those military families.”
The local store opened in September, so this is the first time the event has taken place in the Triangle. Cottingham says the response has been good so far for the event, which will go on rain or shine.
“We’ve had quite a few customers who have seen the display, and have said they are definitely coming back,” she said. “We’ve had a great response, people seem really excited about it.”
There is no cost to volunteers who wish to stand to support veterans and their families, but Cottingham says donations are welcome and encouraged. Organizers have challenged each of the 10 Southern Tide locations to raise $5,000, which will fund one scholarship. All proceeds from the event will go to Folds of Honor.
She also encourages folks to drop by the store any time during the event to show their support.
“If more than one person wants to stand at the same time, we’re going to let that happen,” said Cottingham. “Everyone who wants to stand will be able to take a turn.”
There will also be free flags, koozies and cupcakes for attendees.
Since 2007, the nonprofit Folds of Honor has provided scholarships to subsidize the cost of tuition, school books, fees, on-campus room and board, educational tutoring and other approved educational expenses that a student’s school may deem appropriate.
As a scheduling bonus, Saturday is also National Armed Forces Day, when the men and women who serve in the U.S. Army are celebrated.
To sign up to stand with other volunteers, contact Southern Tide at 984-200-5940 or at southerntideraleigh@gmail.com. Donations can also be made to the initiative directly at http://foh.org/southerntide.
