Wilmington National Cemetery holds annual Memorial Day service

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — It’s a day to remember those who lost their lives serving our country.

A special ceremony was held today at the Wilmington National Cemetery.

Hundreds gathered and participated in the annual memorial service. The Snipes Academy of Art and Design chorus students sang “The Star-Spangled Banner” and “This Land is Your Land.”

Every year the New Hanover County Veterans Council prepares a special day to remember the ones we lost.

“Today is not about barbecues, today is about honoring our veterans,” Jacqueline Braun, president of Rolling Thunder NC-3 said.

“The community owes a humongous debt to all these white stones here,” Vietnam veteran Bob Doleman said.

While remembering our fallen veterans, the service included music and some special speakers like Ed Abbey with the Military Order of Purple Hearts.

The veterans at the service were glad to see the community come together for the day.

“I’ve had my emotions, and I am here to see people celebrate the holiday,” Doleman said.

“Just seeing the camaraderie here with everyone listening to everyone, it’s just so meaningful,” Rossie Nance, a Vietnam Veteran, said,

There was also the tolling of the bell. This recognized more than 500 local veterans who have died in the last 12 months.

“Memorial Day is important to me for two reasons: From the deepest part of my heart I do worry about all the people that were killed in wars, men and women and they came home,” Nance said. “They’re at peace, because when they were killed they became at peace, but the second thing about Memorial Day to me is about the living. We all came home from war-torn countries, but our lives are still there in those countries.”

Taps played to end the service along with the raising of the flag from half staff.