NEW BERN, N.C. — Hundreds gathered at the New Bern National Cemetery on Monday to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.
Roses and American flags were placed on each of the over 7,000 graves as part of the Veterans Council of Craven County’s Memorial Day ceremony.
The event included an invocation, the presentation of the national colors, the singing of the national anthem, a wreath-laying ceremony, and the sounding of taps.
Barbara Chance, chairman of the Veterans Council of Craven County, said the ceremony is an opportunity to honor those who have sacrificed everything.
“It’s a day for remembrance. And it’s important to remember. Because if you forget your past, you’re bound to repeat it,” Chance said.
Among those at the ceremony were keynote speaker Maj. Gen. Ryan Rideout, Congressman Don Davis, Craven County Board of Commissioners Chair Denny Bucher, River Bend Mayor Mark Bledsoe, and a special guest — 103-year-old Col. Leroy Barton, a Marine who served in World War II and the Korea and Vietnam wars.
Retired Marine Guy Lewis said taking part in the ceremony and hearing about Barton’s impact means everything.
“It’s an honor and a privilege. I started at 19, but this is for the people that came before me,” Lewis said.
Another part of the ceremony was the introduction of Gold Star families — close relatives of U.S. military members who died in service to the country. Chance said recognizing these families is essential.
“We always want to acknowledge them because, really, they’ve sacrificed more. Because it’s physically and mentally impacted them with the actual loss of a person,” Chance said.
Among them was Thelma Ward, a Gold Star mother whose son Bobby was killed in Operation Desert Storm in 1991, just before his 21st birthday. She said she has been attending the ceremony every year since.
“I’m glad that my son and others who sacrificed their lives’ memories are still alive. Because he’s gone, but he’s not forgotten. He’s not forgotten,” Ward said.
New Bern National Cemetery was established Feb. 1, 1867. Organizers said it is the final resting place for nearly 1,000 unknown soldiers and Union troops who died in the Battle of New Bern during the Civil War.
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