MEMORIAL DAY: Telling stories can help veterans heal

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Americans all across the country celebrated Memorial Day in many different ways. Families, veterans and leaders celebrated the day with a ceremony at the Wilmington National Cemetery Monday. Names were read and TAPS was played. Then, afterword stories were told.

Veteran Brian Scaringe, and some fellow veterans, talked and laughed as they prepared to leave the cemetery after the ceremony.

“That’s what keeps us going busting on each other and talking about the fun times,” Scaringe said.

It was lighthearted ending for the non-profit motorcycle club, Forgotten Sons, on a day that always begins with a somber tone.

“We leave here and spend the rest of the day telling stories about them, and talking about them and not forgetting them,” Scaringe said. “It’s kind of hard to put into words what it’s like. We all have friends who we’ve lost and we just come here to remember them.”

Scaringe, and his motorcycle club, were among the many at the cemetery standing under the flying flags by the white headstones, listening to names of the fallen, the ringing of the bells and the playing of TAPS.

“Every Memorial Day holiday we come out and honor our fallen brothers and sisters,” Scaringe said.

Joe Montanti, who was also at the cemetery is not a veteran, but he respects them greatly. He shows that respect not only by showing up to Memorial Day ceremony every year, but also by interviewing the men and women who served our country.

“I’m doing a film called, It’s In Your Blood. I’m interviewing soldiers from all wars,” Montanti said.

Montanti said the stories the veterans tell can be horrifying, but they can also be healing.

“The stories that they tell you just give you chills,” Montanti said. “When you do interview them, they cry.”

However, in telling the stories, both Montanti and Scaringe said they can honor the fallen, and give treatment to the living.

“This is therapeutic to us, you got a motorcycle to ride, hang out together, swap stories and remember the good old times,” Scaringe said.

Scaringe added that Forgotten Sons Motorcycle Club raises money for veterans causes.

You can also help veterans by going to many other organizations. Those include Step Up for Soldiers, and Good Shepherd Center.