Wreath Laying at Veteran's Memorial

Description

Wreath Laying at Veteran's Memorial Location: North Carolina State Capitol Date: Monday May 30th, 2011 Time: 10 am - 1 pm

The Tar Heel Detachment of the Marine Corps League for the greater Raleigh area, will sponsor a Memorial Day Ceremony on Monday, May 30th, to recognize all members of our armed forces who have given their lives for their country. Everyone is invited and encouraged to attend. This event will be held on the N.C. State Capital grounds located between Salisbury and Wilmington at Edenton Street. The ceremony will begin at 11:00am with the St Francis Brass Band playing patriotic music and Pam Saulsby of WRAL TV singing the National Anthem, with other patriotic songs by Alicia Grant. At 11:30 there will be a wreath-laying ceremony to remember those who have made the ultimate sacrifice to keep us free.

Delivering the address will be Major General USMC (ret) Tom Braaten. General Braaten was born outside Chicago but raised in Phoenix Arizona. After completing high school he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1965 and served as a ground radar repairman. He earned a commission in December 1966 and his wings as a helicopter pilot in 1968. He served as a CH-46 pilot in Viet Nam. His command tours include: Deputy Commanding General, II Marine Expeditionary Force, and Commander Marine Corps Air Bases East/Commanding General Marine Corps Air Station, Cherry Point, North Carolina. He retired in 2001 after completing his command tour at MCAS Cherry Point. Tom served as the President/CEO of the Twin Rivers YMCA in New Bern for nearly five years. In the summer of 2006 he assumed the position as the Airport Director for the Coastal Carolina Regional Airport.

The ceremony will conclude at noon with Pam Saulsby singing God Bless America and the band playing a salute to all the branches of the armed forces.

The Tar Heel Detachment of the Marine Corps League meets on the 4th Tuesday of the month at the Cary VFW at 7pm. One purpose of the Marine Corps League is to perpetuate the history of the United States Marine Corps through fitting acts to observe the anniversaries of historical occasions of particular interest to Marines. Memorial Day is one of these events.

For further information contact Jr. Vice Commandant Harry Schweitzer, Tar Heel Detachment, Marine Corps League at 449-8799.

Cost: Free