On Saturday, Aug. 4, 2012 the annual University Circle Salutes Veterans Community Festival and Rib Burn-off will take place at the Mt. Zion Congregational Church, VA Medical Center and Western Reserve Historical Society History Center at the intersection of East 108th Street and Magnolia Drive in University Circle.

Free and open to the public, this community-building event is a special tribute to veterans, featuring a ceremony with local dignitaries, as well as live musical entertainment, classic cars, community services booths and children’s games.  The festival begins at Lakeview Cemetery at 10 a.m. with a wreath laying ceremony for the grave of a local veteran. Classic cars and guests will parade from the cemetery through Wade Oval to the festival at 11 a.m.  Barbecue rib and chicken dinners, games and live entertainment, including the return of the Cleveland Showagon, will continue throughout the day.

Each year, the Community Festival honors a local veteran for his or her dedication to their community and their country.  The 2012 Festival Honoree is Lt. Col. Cheryl Kyle, U.S. Army. Kyle was commissioned a second lieutenant in 1979 following completion of the FNP graduate program at Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tenn. During her military career, Kyle served with several units under the 99th, 81st and 82nd Regional Readiness Commands and held several key billets of leadership, including chief nurse and commander positions while on active duty during the Persian Gulf War. Kyle has received numerous military awards and decorations. She is presently employed at the Louis Stokes Cleveland, Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, and is completing a Ph.D., in health services administration.

Representatives from the African-American Archives Auxiliary of WRHS will be on hand at the festival to help visitors discover resources for local African-American history.  They will distribute free passes to the WRHS History Center in University Circle the day of the festival. For more information, call Mt. Zion Church at 216-791-5760.

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Mount Zion Congregational Church is located at 10723 Magnolia Drive; Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center is located at 10701 East Blvd; Western Reserve Historical Society is located at 10825 East Blvd.; Cleveland Museum of Natural History is located at 1 Wade Oval Drive; Hawken School is  located at 10823 Magnolia Drive; The Music Settlement is located at 11125 Magnolia Drive; Junior League Cleveland is located at 10819 Magnolia Drive; and University Circle Inc. is located at 10831 Magnolia Dr. — all in University Circle.

Article submitted by Becky Voldrich with University Circle, Inc.