Memorial Day

Memorial Day is an important holiday in any year, but this year it seems even more important that we take time to honor those who have fallen in our country's wars. There are two events on Monday dedicated to that purpose.
The Town of Nags Head will hold its Memorial Day ceremony in front of Town Hall. It will start at 11:00 am and feature Commander Edward F. Cole, Jr., U.S. Navy (Ret.) as the featured speaker.
The second ceremony will take place in Manteo. The Pea Island Pea Island African-American Heritage Center at Collins Park will be dedicated. The program will begin at noon and feature a salute by the Coast Guard to the men of the Pea Island Lifesaving Station. If you are not familiar with this story it is a fascinating one of courage and bravery. Pea Island Station was the only Life Saving Station manned by an all African American crew. The men of this station received countless medals and citations for bravery in the face of danger. The US Coast Guard Historian has a section on the history of this station.
The Maneto ceremony will take place at Collins Park at Sir Walter Raleigh and Bideford Streets
in Manteo.
There usually are other observances on Memorial Day but I can't find any reference to them on the web or in the paper. If you know of any please add a comment for the benefit of others.
I hope that each of you will take time on Monday to pause and reflect on what has been sacrificed in the name of our country and how we can work to reduce the need for such sacrifices in the future.