WWII Calvary Veteran to Open Memorial Day Weekend Horse Show
Friday, May 20, 2016
GASTONIA, NC A WWII calvary veteran and Victory Farm rider will open the May 27-28 Dallas Summer Classic Horse Show at 6:30pm with a mounted flag ceremony each night at Biggerstaff Park in Dallas, N.C. The Dallas Summer Classic Horse Show is one of the oldest and most respected horse shows in our area. It is open to the public and admission is free.
Adult and children riders from Victory Farm also will display skills demonstrations at the show.
WWII and Vietnam veteran JB Siegfried, 91, of Gastonia enlisted in the Army in 1943 and trained in the mounted cavalry at Ft. Riley, KS. He landed at Utah Beach assigned to the 79th Infantry Division, 313th Infantry Regiment, and fought in the Battle of the Bulge. Following the war, he was stationed at the White House during the Eisenhower administration. He also saw combat in Vietnam in 1968-69. He earned a Combat Infantryman Badge, two Bronze Stars and a Meritorious Service Medal.
He retired from military service at Fort Bragg, N.C., in 1970.
After retirement, he took up skydiving and made 2,769 jumps. In 1998, he was made an Honorary Golden Knight. He became a Yoga instructor in 2005 and taught until 2014. He also earned his private pilot’s license in August 2007 at the age of 83.
His grandson, Michael Siegfried, earned his Eagle Scout award with Troop 6 in Gastonia building a wheelchair mounting platform and ramp at Victory Farm.
Victory Farm is a nonprofit adaptive horsemanship and therapeutic riding center specializing in equestrian therapies for the special needs rider. Victory Farm seeks volunteers and no experience is necessary. Sponsors and donors also are welcome. For more information, call 704-241-2270, email [email protected] or visit victoryrides.org. The facebook page is "Victory Farm Inc."
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