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Cross Roads Rally set for Memorial weekend

Date published: 5/22/2004

The Rev. Charlie Olivieri's biggest fear is that people will forget the price paid to secure freedom in the nation.

"I'm afraid of people taking it too casually or getting into that 'It can't happen to us' mentality," he said this week.

So, he created four years ago Cross Roads Rally--a tribute to veterans, prisoners of war, that is held every Memorial Day weekend in conjunction with the Rolling Thunder "Ride for Freedom" motorcycle rally in Washington.

Olivieri, senior pastor of Promised Land Praise and Worship Center, said the local rally will be held in a tent at Chancellor Christian Church on Brock Road in Spotsylvania County. It is open to the public. This year's activities begin at 9:30 a.m. next Saturday with a worship service, a concert, lunch and a speech from Del. Bobby Orrock.

The event continues next Sunday when participants will ride their cycles to the Pentagon parking lot for the Rolling Thunder rally and parade in D.C.

Olivieri will ride his Harley Davidson motorcycle--which is decorated with pictures of flags and prisoners of war, and missing-in-action stickers--to the event. All branches of the military will be represented in the Presentation of Colors at 11 a.m.

More information is available on the Web at: promised landpraise.org or by phone: 540/207-1367.

--Jessica Allen

Date published: 5/22/2004