thedrifter
05-27-09, 07:34 AM
Memorial Day
TIDELAND NEWS
Published: Wednesday, May 20, 2009 3:03 PM EDT
“We do not know one promise these men made, one pledge they gave, one word they spoke, but we do know they summed up and perfected, by one supreme act, the highest virtue of men and citizens. For love of country, they accepted death, and thus resolved all doubts, and made immortal their patriotism and virtue.”
Gen. James A Garfield, 1868
Memorial Day is an annual holiday celebrated in the United States on the final Monday in May. The holiday commemorates servicemen and -women that died in military service to their country.
The holiday, which was established to occur on May 30, originally honored Union soldiers who fought and died during the American Civil War. However, after World War I the holiday was expanded to commemorate all those who died in military service. Each year, a national moment of remembrance occurs at 3 p.m. eastern standard time.
For those who live in eastern North Carolina, reminders of the men and women of the military who paid the ultimate price are in front of us daily. We are blessed to live side-by-side with the U.S. Marines of Camp Lejeune, Cherry Point and New River. The Beirut Memorial is a 15-minute drive from downtown Swansboro.
But the familiarity and closeness does not take away the need to officially observe – if only on one day – our fellow citizens who are of “the highest virtue.”
We are thankful that there are people like Hank Gotard, officer with the Carteret County Veterans Services Council, who remain true to the tradition of Memorial Day, who do not allow it to simply become “the first day of the summer season.”
Gotard’s office will honor our fallen heroes on Saturday in a Service of Remembrance at the Carteret County Veterans Memorial at Courthouse Square in Beaufort. A musical prelude begins at 10:30 a.m. followed by the service at 11 a.m. Why is it important to take this opportunity? Because it shows us what kind of nation we are.
President John F. Kennedy said, “A nation reveals itself not only by the men it produces, but also by the men it honors, the men it remembers.”
Ellie
TIDELAND NEWS
Published: Wednesday, May 20, 2009 3:03 PM EDT
“We do not know one promise these men made, one pledge they gave, one word they spoke, but we do know they summed up and perfected, by one supreme act, the highest virtue of men and citizens. For love of country, they accepted death, and thus resolved all doubts, and made immortal their patriotism and virtue.”
Gen. James A Garfield, 1868
Memorial Day is an annual holiday celebrated in the United States on the final Monday in May. The holiday commemorates servicemen and -women that died in military service to their country.
The holiday, which was established to occur on May 30, originally honored Union soldiers who fought and died during the American Civil War. However, after World War I the holiday was expanded to commemorate all those who died in military service. Each year, a national moment of remembrance occurs at 3 p.m. eastern standard time.
For those who live in eastern North Carolina, reminders of the men and women of the military who paid the ultimate price are in front of us daily. We are blessed to live side-by-side with the U.S. Marines of Camp Lejeune, Cherry Point and New River. The Beirut Memorial is a 15-minute drive from downtown Swansboro.
But the familiarity and closeness does not take away the need to officially observe – if only on one day – our fellow citizens who are of “the highest virtue.”
We are thankful that there are people like Hank Gotard, officer with the Carteret County Veterans Services Council, who remain true to the tradition of Memorial Day, who do not allow it to simply become “the first day of the summer season.”
Gotard’s office will honor our fallen heroes on Saturday in a Service of Remembrance at the Carteret County Veterans Memorial at Courthouse Square in Beaufort. A musical prelude begins at 10:30 a.m. followed by the service at 11 a.m. Why is it important to take this opportunity? Because it shows us what kind of nation we are.
President John F. Kennedy said, “A nation reveals itself not only by the men it produces, but also by the men it honors, the men it remembers.”
Ellie