Wayne County Veterans and Patriots Coalition hosts a moment of silence
By Joey Pitchford
Published in News on May 31, 2016 1:46 PM
Full Size
News-Argus/CASEY MOZINGO
World War II veteran Tony Ellis salutes during the national anthem being sung by Encore Entertainment for the Memorial Day Ceremony at Wayne Community College Monday morning. Ellis served in the Army.
Full Size
News-Argus/CASEY MOZINGO
Andrew Hibbard, 15, left, James Edwards, 14, Joshua Creech, 16, and Simon Hibbard, 15, members of the Civil Air Patrol Honor Guard from Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, stand at rest during the National Moment of Silence Monday afternoon.
A moment to reflect. A moment to respect. A moment to remember.
About 50 people came together at the Wayne County Veterans Memorial Monday afternoon to pay homage to the nation's fallen warriors.
Representatives from numerous veterans groups were in attendance. The Wayne County Veterans and Patriots Coalition hosted the gathering, and local riding groups carried the flags. Cadets from the Goldsboro chapter of the Civil Air Patrol served as the color guard.
The ceremony lasted around 15 minutes. After WCVPC President Bill Graham welcomed the audience, Chief Master Sgt. Shane Wagner, command chief of the 4th Fighter Wing, took the podium to give remarks.
He spoke about the history of Memorial Day, and about the importance of recognizing those who sacrificed themselves.
"Today, as we take a minute in silence to remember those that have paid the ultimate sacrifice, I ask you to reflect on all the freedoms you enjoy and what was paid to ensure that you have those freedoms," Wagner said.
"To remember is the greatest gift we can give to those that died for each and every one of us."
Wagner also took part in the presentation of the wreath -- a ceremony he said stands for all those lost in service to their country. He was joined by Graham and by Isabel Carrasquillo, whose son died in 2004 while deployed in Iraq. Mrs. Carrasquillo, who is known as a "gold-star mother" for her loss, said that being included as a guest of honor was significant to her.
"It's been a lot to me, because I know people appreciate my son's sacrifice," she said.
Following the presentation, at precisely 3 p.m., the Cadets fired off the three-volley salute, and the crowd fell silent for 60 seconds. Wagner said that this tradition came about in 2000, when Congress passed the National Moment of Remembrance Act.
The act asks American citizens to pause at 3 p.m. local time on Memorial Day to reflect on those who have died in the military.
Graham said that the presence of a gold-star mother like Mrs. Carrasquillo was vital to the proceedings.
"They have suffered, in their own being, the loss of a loved on in a time of war," he said.
Wagner said that being with Mrs. Carrasquillo during the ceremony was "the ultimate honor."
He said, although the loss of a soldier is tragic, those who enter the military understand and embrace the commitments they make.
"I don't think most people enter the military wanting to give up their lives," he said. "But we will gladly lay down our lives to protect our country."