If you want to honor — and remember — the men and women who offered their lives in the service of their country on this Memorial Day weekend, you have choice aplenty.
Three memorial services will honor America’s fighting men and women.
They will take place at:
- West lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in China Grove Saturday at 2:30 p.m., sponsored by Disabled American Veterans Chapter No. 54.
- Salisbury National Cemetery, Monday at 11 a.m., sponsored by the Rowan County Veterans Council.
- Town Park in Kannapolis, Monday at 12 noon, sponsored by the Beaver-Pittman American Legion Post No. 115.
West Lawn
Timothy May, director of the William “Bill” Hefner VA Medical Center in Salisbury, will speak at the Saturday service at West Lawn.
The Junior ROTC unit from South Rowan High School in Landis and trumpet players from the South Rowan High School Band will participate.
And, for the first time this year, the rifle squad from the Rowan County Veterans Council will fire a 21-gun salute during the service, according to DAV Post Cmdr. Howard F. Sutton.
Sutton says letters have been sent to all the mayors and police and sheriff’s departments in Rowan and Cabarrus counties, inviting them to the memorial service.
Notices have also been posted at various places in the community and at West Lawn Cemetery itself.
“The cemetery has put up a nice new monument in memory of fallen soldiers,” he says, and a marker showing a rifle and helmet in memory of fallen comrades is still to be added. A real rifle and helmet will be used tomorrow at the service, since the bronze marker is not yet in place.
Salisbury
Until last year, Salisbury’s annual memorial service took place on the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend at 3 p.m.
But last year, the time was changed to Monday at 11, because it’s cooler at that hour, says Ellis Smith, program assistant, and because of the possibility of rain.
“For five years in a row, we got that summer storm about 3, so we decided to have it earlier to avoid that, and I think most people approved. It seemed to work out better last year.”
Kimberly Wright, who coordinates field activities and develops nationwide communications for national cemeteries for the Department of Veterans Affairs in Washington, will speak.
She joined the National Cemetery administration in 1987 and has served at cemeteries in Illinois, Louisiana, Alexandria, Va., and Florida.
She will be introduced by Ralph Bennett, director of the Salisbury National Cemetery.
This year’s program will begin with a flyover by the National Guard.
Marcelle Williams of the Rowan County Veterans Council will introduce dignitaries and present the W.G. “Bill” Hefner Award to the outstanding member of the Rowan County Veterans Council, Buddy Kyles.
The service will also include the traditional parade of colors by Rowan County Veterans Council’s member chapters, posts, auxiliaries and medical center veteran employees.
George Smith, president of the council, will recognize Gold Star mothers and veterans, with emphasis on Korean War veterans observing the 50th anniversary of that war this year.
Also taking part will be Wesley Smith, who will sing; Lewis Reid and J. Frank Walter, who will lay the memorial wreath; the honor guard, which will fire the 21-gun salute; the East Rowan High School buglers, who will play taps; and Chaplain Henry Mize, who will give the invocation and the benediction.
In case of rain, the ceremony at the cemetery will move to the theatre in Building 6 at the VA Medical Center.
Kannapolis
Kannapolis Mayor Ray Moss will dedicate Town Park to all the veterans of Kannapolis who have served in the armed forces at the Memorial Day service at noon Monday at the park.
And at that moment, its name will officially become Veterans Park.
The city council approved the name change at a meeting on April 23, to become effective at the opening of the annual Memorial Day celebration.
The mayor will also show a prototype of a bronze plaque which the community hopes to dedicate on Memorial Day, 2002.
It will be placed in the gazebo in the park and will be dated May 28, 2001.
Its inscription will read, “The citizens of Kannapolis gratefully acknowledge the gallant men and women who served in the armed forces of the United States to protect our country and our freedom.”
Moss says he expects to appoint a committee representing service groups in the town as well as the city council.
The committee will be charged with looking into the possibility of other improvements to the park and other memorials.
Dr. Edward Tyson, superintendent of the Kannapolis Schools, who will retire at the end of this year, will speak on patriotism, loyalty, duty and service to country at the memorial service.
A number of others will also participate in the program, according to Shorty Poole, commander of the Beaver-Pittman Post.
The Rev. Coy Privette, longtime minister in the community now serving as interim pastor at North Kannapolis Baptist Church, will be master of ceremonies. He is a former state representative and is now a Cabarrus County commissioner.
Representatives of other American Legion, VFW and DAV representatives, as well as five Gold Star mothers, will be recognized. The Gold Star mothers are Mrs. Thelma “Midge” Harris, Mrs. Elizabeth Robinson, Mrs. Christine Ballard, Mrs. Ruth Fink and Mrs. Jack Hager.
Carolyn Tucker will sing several numbers, including the national anthem, and the Rev. Stephen Autry of North Kannapolis United Methodist Church will give the invocation and benediction.
The Junior ROTC honor guard from A.L. Brown High School will present the traditional rifle salute and play taps, and a memorial wreath will be placed at the gazebo.
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