Veterans groups plan Memorial Day events
By From staff reports
Published in News on May 22, 2017 9:57 AM
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Veterans organizations have plans for a big Memorial Day weekend to pay tribute to the fallen warriors of Wayne County.
The public is urged to join in these events.
On Saturday, May 27, at 8 a.m. there will be biscuits, doughnuts and coffee at the American Legion Wayne Post 11 located at 2973 U.S. 117 South.
At 9 a.m., there will be introductions and a tribute followed by flag distributions to team leaders. Cemeteries to be worked are the Eastern Carolina Veterans Cemetery, Wayne Memorial Park, Wayne Memorial Park West, Elmwood, Willow Dale and Evergreen Memorial.
At 2 p.m. on Saturday a street at Elmwood Cemetery will be dedicated in honor of Marine Pfc. Dan Bullock, a Goldsboro native who was the youngest serviceman killed in action in the Vietnam War.
Mount Olive VFW Post 9959 will sponsor a Memorial Day ceremony at 3 p.m. Sunday, May 28, in Maplewood Cemetery.
Mount Olive Mayor Pro tem Joe Scott will be the speaker.
Taps will be played, possibly on bagpipes, and a wreath-laying ceremony will be conducted by a Mount Olive Police Department Honor Guard.
VFW members, Boy Scouts and volunteers will place flags on the graves of veterans on Saturday, May 27.
The flags will be placed in Maplewood Cemetery, Carver Memorial Park and the Vernon Cemetery , all in Mount Olive, and in cemeteries in Seven Springs and Calypso.
On Monday, May 29 at 11 a.m., the official Wayne County Memorial Day Service will be held in Moffatt Auditorium at Wayne Community College. Gold Star Wife Brenda F. Albritton will represent all fallen warriors, including her husband, Army Specialist 4 Dempsey W. Parrott, who was killed in action in May 1968. The keynote speaker is Col. Christopher Sage, commander of the 4th Fighter Wing at Seymour Johnson AFB.
At 2:45 p.m. Monday there will be an observance of the National Moment of Silence at the Wayne County Veterans Memorial at 239 E. Walnut St. Col. Sage is the speaker. He and Ms. Albritton will also participate in the wreath laying at the Memorial Wall.
At 4 p.m. on Monday, there will be a dedication of a highway marker honoring the memory of Pfc. Bullock in the 200 block of West Ash Street.