The Memorial Day ceremony honoring those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom will take place at the Wake Forest Veterans Memorial located on the grounds of the Heritage Golf Course starting at 11 o’clock May 29, 2023.
There is ample signage on all town roads leading to the Veterans Memorial. Please allow ample time to arrive at the venue prior to the start of the ceremony. Seating will be available to accommodate all who wish to be seated for the ceremony.
The ceremony will include the posting of the colors, military hymns, the National Anthem, speeches, playing of TAPS and laying of a wreath. The entire ceremony should take close to an hour.
We encourage you to take every opportunity to remember what this sacred holiday is truly about. American citizens have come to the support of our country preserving our way of life and ensuring our great republic remains strong advocating a steadfast and resourceful democracy.
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Free concert by 440th Army National Guard Band
The 440th Army National Guard Band will perform in a free concert on Thursday, May 25, at 7 p.m. in the JPAC. JPAC is located at the Louisburg College Campus, North Main Street, Louisburg, NC 27549. Tickets are not required, so just come on over and enjoy the show!
The 440th band performs for troops and their families and for the citizens of North Carolina at ceremonies, public concerts, and parades. They have earned numerous awards including Outstanding North Carolina National Guard unit and the Eisenhower trophy three times as an outstanding Army unit.
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Woman has POW bracelet for Wake Forest son
The other day a woman got in touch with the Gazette by email, saying she had a POW bracelet that belonged to James F. Bell, a Navy captain and pilot who spent seven and a half years in captivity in Vietnam after his plane was shot down.
The woman said she was trying to get in touch with one of his sons, Thomas Bell, who The Washington Post in 2014 said lived in Wake Forest.
The Gazette has been unable to get in touch with Thomas Bell and will be grateful to anyone who can help. The Gazette can give him the woman’s telephone number and email address so he can recover that memento of his father.
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Veteran Coffee and Outreach
The members of VFW Memorial Post 8466 are aware of and concerned for veterans, young and old. In an effort to inform the many former service personnel living in Wake Forest and surrounding communities, the VFW has instituted the Veterans Coffee and Outreach Program.
The goal of the Veterans Coffee & Outreach Program is to provide a relaxed, open and inviting gathering of fellow veterans in an effort to assist in finding answers that may help them deal with their wants. Listening to others who have experienced similar issues has proven time and again to help veterans realize they are not alone and help is available.
“No veteran should ever be left to heal alone,” said Tony Attina, an advocate of the Post’s Veterans Coffee and Outreach. Studies have shown that comrades are the best resource in helping find the assistance needed.
Members of VFW Memorial Post 8466, American Legion Post 187 and Marine Corp League (1257 Air Land NC Detachment MCL) invite all veterans, spouses/significant others and family members, to attend one or both of the monthly Veterans Coffee and Outreach events held at the American Legion Hall, 225 East Holding Avenue, Wake Forest, NC. The next in a series of these events will occur on Thursday evening, May 25, 2023, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. VFW Memorial Post 8466 provides coffee, soft drinks and light food products at no charge to attendees. Membership in any veterans’ organization is NOT required to attend.
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Memorial Flag Decorating
Wake Forest Memorial Post 8466, Veterans of Foreign Wars, along with other veteran organizations and civic groups, will be placing an American Flag in front of over 1,600 veteran graves in over 17 cemeteries within Wake Forest and surrounding areas. Historically, VFW Post 8466 has accepted the responsibility for all community Memorial Day activities. Traditionally, a number of civic organizations and scouting associations have assisted in this enormous venture.
It is a wonderful teaching objective for the youth by decorating veteran’s graves as a tribute to the men and women who served in the Armed Forces. We once again encourage family members and neighbors wishing to assist in this effort to decorate departed veteran graves to assemble at the American Legion building located at 225 East Holding Avenue between the hours of 8 and 9 a.m. May 27, 2022. Refreshments will be served.
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November 1, 2024
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