County to remember fallen heroes
By Kenneth Fine
Published in News on May 29, 2011 1:50 AM
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News-Argus/TROY HERRING
In honor of the upcoming Memorial Day holiday, Post 92 Cub Scout Joseph Niece places an American flag on the grave of a U.S. war veteran early Saturday morning at Wayne Memorial Cemetery. In partnership with the American Legion of Goldsboro, local Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts and American Legion members met early at 8 a.m. to enjoy a biscuit breakfast at the American Legion building in Mar Mac, which was then followed by the placing of flags on deceased war veterans' graves at several locations throughout the county.
Flags have already been placed on the graves of those Wayne County residents who served their country, but there are still several opportunities for locals to commemorate Memorial Day.
And those area veterans who have been planning their respective services for months now hope their friends and neighbors won't let down those who died for the cause of freedom -- and the loved ones they left behind.
The following events are currently scheduled for today and Monday:
* Sunday, 3 p.m. -- Memorial Day Service at Maplewood Cemetery: This event, sponsored by the Mount Olive Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 9959, will feature keynote speaker Hugh Howard, a U.S. Air Force veteran and former POW who, during World War II, spent several months in a German prison camp.
* Monday, 11 a.m. -- Memorial Day Service at Wayne Community College's Moffatt Auditorium: Hosted by the Veterans and Patriots Coalition, this event will feature keynote speaker Col. Patrick Doherty, the 4th Fighter Wing commander. Last year, hundreds of local residents turned out for the program, which includes a slide show and wreath laying. Gold Star wife Barbara Newman -- her husband, "Mink," was killed in Vietnam -- will be honored at the event and her story will be told in Monday's News-Argus.
* Monday, 3 p.m. -- National Moment of Silence: The nation will pause at 3 p.m. for a moment of reflection and prayer dedicated to those who have lost their lives in combat.