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Thursday, April 16, 2015
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6416 Wilkinson Blvd Blvd. • Belmont Belmont, NC Main Street Crossing Shopping Center MONDAY-SATURDAY 10-7 • ARMYNAVYOUTLET@GMAIL.COM
Volume 80 • Iss Issue 15
Thursday, April 16, 2015
Serving Belmont • Cramerton • Lowell • McAdenville • Mount Holly • Stanley
Local hero laid to rest with full military honors
✪ Ammo ✪ ✪ Tactical Gear ✪ ✪ Military Supplies ✪ ✪ Clothing ✪ ✪ Survival Supplies ✪
Criterium bike race thrills large crowd
By Alan Hodge
alan.bannernews@gmail.com
The weather was made to order for Sunday's Belmont Criterium bicycle race and a large crowd turned out to see a couple hundred amateur and pro bicyclists burn up the downtown pavement. The atmosphere was festive. Riders in kaleidoscopic tights and aerodynamic helmets mounted their high tech bikes and pedaled furiously down Main, Woodrow, Davis, Glendale and Kenwood streets reaching speeds of 30mph. Spectators stood several rows deep along the 2/3 mile course and yelled their tonsils out for their favorite riders. Snacks and beverages were consumed in large quantities. The day began at 12 pm with a series of amateur cycling races on the closed downtown course. The professional criterium races started at 5 pm on streets north of the railroad tracks. The women's professional race kicked off at 5 pm and the men's professional race cranked up at 6 pm. By dusk, everyone was tired, but thrilled that the day had been a smashing success. Overall, it was a full-blown “happening”. CaroMont Health was the event sponsor. Final results for the races can be found at www.usacycling. org. See more Criterium bike race pictures on page 15
Sgt. Bunyan Price Jr. while serving during the Vietnam War. By Alan Hodge alan.bannernews@gmail.com
Belmont welcomed a fallen hero home last Saturday when Vietnam War MIA Bunyan Price Jr. was laid to rest with full military honors in Greenwood Cemetery. Price had lost his life in May 1970 at the age of 20 when the helicopter he was riding in was shot down near the Cambodia border. His remains were discovered last year, identified, and turned over to U.S. officials. He would have been 65 years old this year. Price's casket was met by family members and transferred from a Delta Airlines jet last Thursday and taken to Greene's Funeral Home in Gastonia. The hearse was escorted by over 200 Patriot Guard motorcyclists and numerous law enforcement vehicles as it made its way down US 29/74. Folks stood on the side of the road and watched. Veteran and American Legion member Larry Norwood was in the median near Belmont as the bikes and vehicles passed. “That is something to see,” Norwood said. Visitation for Price was held Friday at First Assembly of God in Gastonia
Members of the 20th Brigade, Funeral Honor Team from Fort Bragg remove Sgt. Bunyan Price’s remains for burial in Belmont’s Greenwood Cemetery last Saturday. Price was brought home from where he was killed in action in Cambodia 45 years ago. Photo by Alan Hodge and a large crowd showed up to pay him well-deserved respects and offer condolences to his family. The funeral took place Saturday at 1pm and Price's casket placed in a hearse for the trip to Belmont. Once in the downtown area, it was transferred to a horse-drawn 19th century hearse and pulled down Main St. to Greenwood Cemetery for burial. Along the route, people stopped and took in the solemnity of the sight. Rachel and Jason Skipper brought their 10-year-old son Kohen to see the procession. “It's good to bring him back,” Kohen said. “We should honor him for his service.” Barry Smith with American Legion Post 144 joined his comrades at the burial. “It's a sad, yet joyous time now that he has returned,” Smith said. Jack Markam from Durham and Harry Kocopi from Landrum, S.C. were in the same Vietnam War U.S. Army unit as Price- the 2/34Armor. “He was one of the last MIAs of our unit to be found,” Markham said. “It's wonderful his hometown is hon-
oring him,” said Kocopi. The procession also included over 100 members of the Patriot Guard and Rolling Thunder motorcyclists, members of area American Legion posts such as 144, 100, and 180, the Gaston County Honor Guard, and numerous dignitaries including mayor Charlie Martin, Sen. Kathy Harrington, and council members. The cemetery was filled with onlookers and people lined the ground surrounding Bunyan's gravesite which is next to his parents. Price's siblings and other relatives joined the mourners. They had waited 45 years to learn of his fate in a war halfway around the globe. “It's sad, but I'm glad to have him home at last. I want to thank each and every person that showed up for honoring my brother. He died a hero,” said Bunyan's brother Dennis Price The full military funeral also included a 21-gun salute, bagpipe music, and Taps. It was a solemn and very moving occasion. See more pictures of local hero page 4
These bike racers were part of the action at the 3rd annual Belmont Criterium event last Sunday. The races drew a large crowd of onlookers and riders. Photo by Alan Hodge
New senior apartments planned for Belmont By Alan Hodge alan.bannernews@gmail.com
A new apartment complex for senior citizens in Belmont took a step forward last week when the city council Oked a conditional use permit for its construction. Work on the complex should begin later this year. The apartments, known as Amberwood Pointe, will be located at 6525 Wilkinson Blvd. beside Bi-Lo, Advance Auto, and Mercy Place apartments. The application for the Conditional Use Permit that the council approved was submitted by the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy. The CUP will allow See more SENIOR APARTMENTS page 2
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