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bout one hundred people gathered in front of the Pamlico County Courthouse Monday morning for a Memorial Day ceremony to remember veterans of the country’s wars.

Representatives of several branches of the military and several veterans’ organization took part in the ceremony. They later fired off a 21-gun salute.

Several veterans were in the audience — Pamlico County residents who fought in WWII, the Korean and Vietnam wars among others. The audience was encouraged to personally thank them. As one speaker said, “You’re within a few feet of a hero.”

The Memorial Day ceremony took place in front of the Pamlico County Courthouse.

The names of the Pamlico County residents who died during the wars, starting with WWI, were read aloud. As each name was mentioned, a veteran snapped a salute. (It was explained that a bell is usually rung after each name, but that the bell could not be found in time for the ceremony.)

WWII veteran, Ned Delamar and his son, Dennis.

Several readings were offered, including the WWI poem, “In Flanders FIelds” and the response to that poem. Veterans placed wreaths at the Veterans’ Memorial in front of the courthouse. Walter Graves, minister of Oriental’s United Methodist Church, who spent 40 years in the military, many as a chaplain, was the featured speaker. The ceremony was capped off with a 21-gun salute.

Sherwood and Sheila Cantine of Grantsboro, whose daughter, Dawn is in the Army and has been in Tikrit, Iraq since the fall. Sheila Cantine told the crowd that Dawn had emailed that morning from Tikrit with Memorial Day greetings. Dawn is the first woman in the family to enlist. Navy veteran Sherwood Cantine says that his family has been in the military from WWI to the present.

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Walter Graves, minister at Oriental United Methodist Church, a long-time Army chaplain and veteran of Vietnam and Iraq, was the featured speaker.

A veteran positions a wreath in front of the veterans’ memorial.

Another wreath is presented.

The veterans’ memorial in front of the courthouse, where the names of Pamlico County residents who died in the wars are permanently listed. At the Memorial Day ceremony, the names were read aloud.

In the audience, umbrellas fended off some of the sun and heat.

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The 21-gun salute.

Under the umbrella view.

The US flag flew at half-staff during the ceremony. Afterward, Carolyn and James Paradis of Arapahoe folded it. .

James and Carolyn Paradis. A native of Reelsboro, Carolyn went to a USO dance in New Bern in early June of 1958 where she met James, a Marine from Waterville, Maine. Six weeks later they married. Asked if they knew right away, Carolyn replied, “He did.” The Arapahoe couple are active in VFW Post 8094.

Posted Tuesday May 26, 2009 by Melinda Penkava