05/22/14 — Memorial service planned

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Memorial service planned

By From staff reports
Published in News on May 22, 2014 1:46 PM

When Monday's Memorial Day service is held in downtown Goldsboro, Kathy Moore will be there for her son, Ryan.

But Mrs. Moore, a Gold Star mother, will be there not only for her son, who died in Iraq in 2007, but for every other young American who gave his or her life for their country.

"It's just something I can do to honor, not just my son, but the other sons and daughters as well," said Mrs. Moore. "I've taken my loss and tried to share it in as positive a way as I can."

Mrs. Moore serves as director of the North Carolina chapter of Honor and Remember, an organization dedicated to creating a flag that would fly as a reminder of all the lives lost in the defense of freedom.

There is no flag that flies in special honor of the fallen, and Mrs. Moore said she believes there should be one.

Her son, Cpl. Ryan Russell, was an Army medic. His death, and the sacrifices of other young Americans like him, should never be forgotten, she said. A special flag that recalls that sacrifice would help serve as a reminder of those young men and women.

The Wayne County observation of Memorial Day will start at 11 a.m. at the Paramount Theatre. The keynote speaker will be Judge Tim Finan, a retired Air Force officer.

At 2:45 p.m., the observance of the National Moment of Silence will be held at the Wayne County Veteran Memorial on Walnut Street. The speaker will be Medal of Honor recipient Col. Joe Marm.