Memorials planned to remember those who served
By Kenneth Fine
Published in News on May 20, 2009 1:46 PM
Family members, friends and neighbors of the 19 sons of Duplin County who died in Vietnam will kick off the Memorial Day weekend Friday, when they converge on the Duplin Courthouse lawn at 11 a.m. for the unveiling of a monument honoring those who never made it home from the jungle.
Patetown native and former Congressman Martin Lancaster -- a Vietnam-era veteran who was confirmed as Assistant Secretary of the Army by the U. S. Senate in 1996 and also served as president of the North Carolina Community College System -- will be the keynote speaker for the event.
But they will not be the only ones honoring those lost in the line of duty.
Wayne County veterans and those from Mount Olive have scheduled remembrances, too.
Saturday, members of Wayne veterans' organizations are expected to meet at the American Legion post off U.S. 117 to distribute flags for placement at the graves of fallen troops.
And a crowd is expected at Maplewood Cemetery the following day at 3 p.m. for Mount Olive's annual Memorial Day ceremony.
The weekend of events will culminate at 11 a.m. Monday at Wayne Community College when Rep. Walter Jones -- and hundreds of others -- gather for Wayne's remembrance.