Wake Forest resident Graham Pope Sr. who served his nation in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II will be honored at the 19th Memorial Flat-Raising Ceremony Monday, June 5, at 11 a.m. in Centennial Plaza in front of the Wake Forest Town Hall on Brooks Street.
Members of Pope’s family will participate in the ceremony, which will include patriotic songs, special remarks, a memorial wreath laying and the ceremonial flag-raising. Following the raising of the American flag, the U.S. Army service flag will be raised in recognition of the military branch in which Pope served. Both flags will fly in Centennial Plaza throughout June.
Photographs and other remembrances of Pope will also be displayed in Centennial Plaza during the ceremony, then in the Town Hall lobby through the end of June. Many town residents will remember him for his shoe repair shop near the Underpass.
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 services are provided at no cost and intended solely to honor departed veterans and their families.
The Wake Forest Memorial Flag-Raising Committee continually 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 2017 Memorial Flag-Raising schedule, visit wakeforestnc.gov and search “Memorial Flag Raising” or contact Pete Lambert at 919-529-3018 or bflambert@mindspring.com.
