Mission Statement

“Heroes are those that rise to the occasion, that fulfill the need of the moment and thank God we have people like that.”

-Gus Lehr,
Retired
Chairman of the Board
Shelter Insurance Co.

Memorial Day Weekend
Salute to Veterans Corporation

The Memorial Day Weekend Salute To Veterans Corporation is a not-for-profit, 501c3 tax-deductible, private, educational, Missouri company made up of more than 3,000 volunteers, 100 committee chairmen and dedicated to the following:

1. To recognize, honor, and thank all veterans and active duty members of the Armed Services of the United States of America and its Allies, past and present, both living and dead.

2. To organize parades, air shows, static displays, and any similar type of activity to recognize the aforementioned individuals, particularly the holding of such events on the day designated by Congress as "Memorial Day" and the weekend thereof.

3. To conduct educational programs, seminars, dinners, events, and meetings to recognize and honor them.

4. To raise funds for the above purposes and to spend those funds in the furtherance of the above-mentioned purposes.

5. To construct permanent memorials in various public and private places to recognize those individuals as set forth above.

PLEASE NOTE: The Celebration should not be referred to as “the Columbia Airshow,” “Columbia’s Memorial Day Airshow,” this “Columbia Event,” “Columbia’s Memorial Day Weekend,” etc. or any other designation that would imply that it is hosted, organized, or anyway produced or sponsored by the City of Columbia, its Convention & Visitors Bureau, the Columbia Chamber of Commerce, or the State of Missouri. It is presented solely by the Memorial Day Weekend Salute to Veterans Corporation, a private, 501c3, not-for-profit, tax-deductible, educational corporation in the State of Missouri. The Corporation consists of more than 3,000 volunteers and 100 committee chairmen, none of whom is paid.