In 2008, the Myrtle Beach City Council and Horry County Council passed ordinances designed to end or restrict the large motorcycle rallies that had come to dominate the month of May.
Part of the effort to end the rallies was a new festival, Military Appreciation Days, that was intended to help fill the void the rallies left behind.
While the bike rallies are still here during May, so is Military Appreciation Days, now in its third year.
Retired U.S. Army colonel Bob Hawkins has been involved with organizing the festival from the beginning.
"It's a great idea. Each year, it's gotten bigger," Hawkins said.
The first year was a learning experience, Hawkins said. That year, the festival featured events at several venues on the Grand Strand, from Market Common to Ocean Boulevard.
"We were too spread out. This year, we consolidated almost all of it downtown," Hawkins said. He believes the impact will be a larger crowd for festival events and displays, including The Wall That Heals, a half-scale traveling replica of the Vietnam Memorial.
Hawkins believes the festival has accomplished one of its purposes, that of giving recognition to active duty military personnel, reservists and veterans.
"We wanted to offer discount rates at hotels, restaurants and entertainment" to military personnel, Hawkins said. A number of Grand Strand businesses have agreed, he said.
Hawkins also believes the festival is putting the focus of the last weekend in May back where it belongs.
"I think it's one of our goals, to emphasize the importance and meaning of Memorial Day," he said.
While Myrtle Beach's helmet law has been overturned and the May bike rallies are still around, Hawkins said Military Appreciation Days has accomplished what it set out to do.
"I think it's only going to get better."
Click here for a list of Memorial Day events going on around the Grand Strand and Pee Dee and to leave a comment thanking a vet or active duty member!
