Events: Remembrance on Memorial Day 2011
Story and photo by Brennin Cummings.
Cary, NC – Growing up, Memorial Day meant a lot of things to me – the end of the school year, beautiful weather, and my family’s annual Memorial Day party. However, it also meant playing my trumpet at memorial services for veterans around my hometown.
My father also plays trumpet, so he would take me and other kids from the trumpet section in my middle school band to local cemeteries, where he would lead us in the playing of Taps.
Taps is an easy song to play- on trumpet you never move your fingers- but its power cannot be overstated. As we played, the men in uniform held their arms up in a stiff salute, their eyes glued to the American flag waving before them. Even as a 6th grader, I understood that their minds weren’t in the cemetery at that moment. The notes were carrying them to distant lands and reminding them of fallen comrades that gave the ultimate sacrifice for our country.
Memorial Services in the Triangle
This year, a number of memorial services honoring the veterans of the United States are occurring in the area.
- Raleigh National Cemetery- Memorial Day program sponsored by the Raleigh American Legion Post #1 on Sunday May 29th at 2pm.
- Oakwood Cemetery (Raleigh)- Memorial service on Monday May 19th from 4pm-5pm with keynote speaker U.S. Army Brigadier General Anthony J. Tata, Superintendent of the Wake County Public School System. Seating will be provided.
- Veteran’s Memorial (Raleigh)- Wreath laying service at 10am to 1pm Monday May 30th at the North Carolina State Capitol.
- Wake Forest Veteran’s Memorial- Memorial Day service on Monday May 30th at 11am.
- Bennett Place State Historical Site- Memorial Day Remembrance called “The United States Military Throughout the Ages” on Saturday May 28th from 10am to 4pm.
- Veterans Freedom Memorial (Cary)- On Harrison Avenue between Cary Parkway and Beechtree Drive
If have information about other Memorial remembrances throughout the Triangle, please add them in the comments to this story.
This in from Curtis Leary- (thanks for the info Curtis!)
Cary American Legion Post 67 will hold a Memorial Day Ceremony at the Hillcrest Cemetery in Cary starting at 10:00 AM on Monday, May 30. All are invited to attend this annual event. Following the Ceremony, Cary Post 67 will hold an open house reception with light refreshments provided by the Auxiliary Unit 67 at the Post Home. The Post Home is located at 8523 Chapel Hill Rd, Cary. Call 481-4811 or 469-3010 for more information.
Hillcrest Memorial info:
Monday, May 30, 2011
10am Program @ Hill Crest Cemetery, Cary, NC
Opening Remarks, Bill Cozzolino
Presentation of Colors, Post 67 Color Guard
National Anthem, Cub Scout Pack 316
Pledge of Allegiance, TBA
POW/MIA Ceremony, DAR, Ann Burns
Invocation, Post 67 Chaplain Frank Rea
American Legion Division III Commander, Patricia Harris
Cary Town Council, Jack Smith
N.C. House of Representatives, Jennifer Weiss
N.C. House of Representatives, Nelson Dollar
N.C. House of Representatives, Tom Murray
US Congress, David Price
Veteran Speaker, Benny Suggs, Read Admiral (Ret.)
Presentation of Wreath, DAR
Salute to Fallen Comrade, Post Chaplain Frank Rea
Rifle Salute, Post 67 Honor Guard
Taps, Dallas Foster
Closing Remarks, Bill Cozzolino
God Bless America
Retire the Colors
Bill Cozzolino – American Legion Post 67 Commander
Mike – I contacted a friend who had helped organize the ceremony at the VFM in Cary in previous years. He’s going to be in Charlotte this year at another veteran’s event and didn’t have any additional info. Likewise, Hillcrest usually has something, but we could not discover any info. If you hear of something, please pass it along.
There is not a date and time for Veterans Freedom Memorial in Cary. If there is a ceremony I would like to take my daughters as well as have a chance to remember and honor the guys and gals we owe so much to so I would love to know time and date.
Thanks for putting the Memorial back into the three day Holiday weekend