Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Memorial Day topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Garner’s Memorial Day ceremony honors 68 local service members; mayor urges unity
Summary
Mayor Buddy Gupton and keynote Jimmy Bellamy led Garner’s Memorial Day observance at the town’s veterans memorial, honoring 68 local service members, recounting Lance Corporal Enrique Sanchez’s service, and announcing museum hours and a June 26 82nd Airborne performance.
Phil Matthews, a Garner town councilman who served as master of ceremonies, opened Garner’s Memorial Day service at the Garner Veterans Memorial and led an invocation before introducing Mayor Buddy Gupton and the day’s speakers.
Mayor Buddy Gupton recognized elected officials and town staff, praised the design and community effort behind the 2013 veterans memorial, and urged attendees to emphasize common ground. “Look to your left, look to your right,” Gupton said as he asked residents to find shared values and to “be a fountain, not a drain.”
Tim Stevens, who helped bring past memorial exhibits to Garner, recounted the local sacrifices commemorated at the site and honored the 68 men from the community whose names appear on the memorial. Stevens highlighted the story of Lance Corporal Enrique (Henry) Sanchez, who received a Bronze Star with Valor for actions in 2006 and was killed in July 2006 at age 21; Stevens said Sanchez’s sacrifice helped inspire the creation of the park.
Keynote speaker Jimmy Bellamy, identified in remarks as a state government official with the Department of Veterans Affairs and general counsel, framed Memorial Day as a day to measure the "true cost of freedom" in lives lost and to support gold star families. "The true cost of freedom has always been measured in American lives," Bellamy said during his address.
Organizers also noted practical details for people attending related events: the Garner History Museum at the depot will be open 10:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. for those who want to see mementos from the Wall That Heals exhibit, and the town announced a June 26 free-ticketed performance by the 82nd Airborne Division All-American Chorus and Band at the historic auditorium (tickets available through garnerperformingartscenter.com).
Phil Matthews thanked volunteers, public works, parks and recreation staff, the veterans advisory committee, and area veteran posts for their support. He closed the program by inviting attendees to visit the museum uptown and by saying organizers plan to expand tents and amenities for next year’s ceremony.
The ceremony included the presentation of the colors, a performance of the national anthem by Hannah Quinn Living, remarks from representatives of veterans organizations and civic leaders, and the raising of new flagpoles honoring the U.S. flag, the North Carolina flag and those still missing in action. No formal votes or legislative actions were taken at the event.
