R.H. Rufus Forrest, longtime Wake Forest teacher and principal, will be honored Monday, Sept. 10, at 11 a.m. at the town’s 29th Memorial Flag-Raising Ceremony in Centennial Plaza in front of the Wake Forest Town Hall.
Forrest served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. Members of his family will participate in the ceremony, which will include patriotic songs, special remarks, a memorial wreath laying and the ceremonial flag-raising. After raising the American flag, the Wake Forest Fire Department Honor Guard will raise the U.S. Navy service flag in recognition of the military branch in which Forrest served. Both flags will fly in Centennial Plaza throughout September.
Photographs and other remembrances of Forrest will also be displayed in Centennial Plaza during the ceremony, then in the Town Hall lobby through the end of the month.
Presented by several local veterans’ organizations to honor the sacrifices of deceased Wake Forest veterans and their families, memorial flag-raising ceremonies are scheduled in Centennial Plaza at 11 a.m. – typically on the first Monday of each month from April through October. The September observance takes place each year on the second Monday due to the Labor Day holiday.
The services are provided at no cost and intended solely to honor departed veterans and their families.
The Wake Forest Memorial Flag-Raising Committee solicits the names of deceased Wake Forest veterans who may be honored during future flag-raising ceremonies. To be eligible for consideration, the deceased veteran must meet one of the following criteria: 1) joined active duty in Wake Forest; 2) died in Wake Forest; or 3) was a member of a Wake Forest veterans’ organization.
For more information, including the complete 2018 Memorial Flag-Raising schedule, visit wakeforestnc.gov and search “Memorial Flag Raising” or contact Pete Lambert at 919-529-3018 or bflambert@mindspring.com<mailto:bflambert@mindspring.com>.
