Posted on May 18, 2007 | by Don Beehler

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)--LifeWay Christian Resources and Holman Bible Outreach International have teamed with Task Force Patriot USA, the U.S. Air Force, General Motors and Stone Mountain Park to sponsor a Memorial Day weekend tribute to active duty and veteran U.S. troops and their families.

"Task Force Patriot Salute to the Troops," May 26-28 at the Atlanta-area Stone Mountain Park, is expected to draw more than 100,000 people.

Former SBC President Bobby Welch, a decorated Vietnam War veteran and author of "You, The Warrior Leader," will be among the featured speakers. Welch currently is strategist for global evangelical relations with the SBC Executive Committee.

Holman Bible Outreach International will introduce its new paperback Holman CSB Military Bible and give away 3,000 copies to veterans and others during the weekend celebration. HBOI, an entity of LifeWay Christian Resources, functions as a Bible society to facilitate the distribution of the Holman Christian Standard Bible and to provide affordable Bibles and Scripture portions for the purpose of evangelism and ministry.

"We are honored to be part of this great event and to provide the men and women who serve our nation with a Bible that is accurate and easy to understand," said Phill Burgess, HBOI executive director. "The Holman CSB Military Bible is designed to meet the specific needs of military personnel in a format that is easy to carry."

Task Force Patriot Salute to the Troops, which also is an official U.S. Air Force 60th anniversary event, will include daily activities such as flyovers by Air Force jets, military bands, musicians and military and civilian motivational speakers. Each evening guests can enjoy "The Call to Freedom," a two-and-a-half-hour show that will combine live music, fireworks and flyovers with the park's traditional laser show.

A free concert by country music artist Aaron Tippin is scheduled Sunday evening. During the Gulf War in 1990, Tippin became the first singer to go to Saudi Arabia to entertain the troops, and in 2002 he went to Afghanistan. Since 2003, Tippin has been making annual visits to American forces in Iraq and has become the spokesperson for the Paralyzed Veterans of America.

The weekend also will feature an exhibit of vintage racing cars and a number of Air Force aircraft, exhibits and demonstrations, such as bomb disposal robots and a medical corps mobile museum.

Task Force Patriot USA, based in Lawrenceville, Ga., is an organization that seeks to provide faith-based assistance to members of the military and their families in times of need.
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For more information about "Task Force Patriot Salute to the Troops" at Stone Mountain, visit www.stonemountainpark.com/salute.