ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) —
On a day set aside to honor the country’s military personnel who died while serving, Memorial Day events are planned across Western North Carolina.
A Memorial Day ceremony will start at 10 a.m. Monday, May 27, at the Western North Carolina State Veterans Cemetery, at 962 W Old U.S. Highway 70 in Black Mountain.
The keynote speaker is Lt. Col. (Ret.) Harold (Ted) Minnick, U.S. Army, who was a field artillery battery commander in Vietnam from 1969-70. There will also be a reading from the Veteran writing group, Brothers and Sisters Like These.
The event is sponsored by the Buncombe County Veterans Council, the Department of Veterans Affairs, the State of North Carolina and the city of Asheville.
A recording of the ceremony will be available on the City of Asheville YouTube channel at 3 p.m. that day.
Other events include:
Memorial Day Service: 9 a.m. Lake Lure Veterans Memorial, Lake Lure.
Memorial Day Ceremony: 10 a.m. at the Transylvania County Courthouse gazebo, 7 E. Main St., Brevard. The American Legion and Veterans History Museum of the Carolinas will co-host this year’s remembrance ceremony to pay tribute to those who have given their lives in service to our country. The event will include a wreath-laying ceremony, local speakers, a presentation of colors, a recognition of Gold Star families and a moment of silence to honor the fallen heroes.
Memorial Day Service: 11 a.m. at the Community Center at Lake Louise, 60 Lakeshore Drive, Weaverville. (Ret. 3-star) Lt. General Kathleen Gainey will be the guest speaker. The Reuter Center Singers will lead the singing of the National Anthem along with a patriotic song medley. The program will include a video of the rifle salute by the Weaverville Police Department Squad and “Taps” by the Weaverville Fire Department. “Amazing Grace” will be performed on bagpipes by Howard Dusenbury.
Memorial Day Observance: 11 a.m. on the courthouse lawn, 1 N. Main St., Marshall. Refreshments will be served.
Memorial Day Service: 11 a.m. at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, 538 Tracy Grove Road, Hendersonville. Antique and classic cars will escort veterans to the service. Drivers should gather at 9:30 a.m. in parking lot behind American Legion Post 77 on Washington Street. Following the services, refreshments, including a barbecue lunch, will be served to the first 300 people.
Asheville Jazz Orchestra concert: 2-5 p.m. at Highland Brewing Co., 12 Old Charlotte Highway, Asheville. The orchestra will be playing big band hits from the 40s to the present day in the meadow (weather permitting). Admission is free.
Memorial Day Concert and Ceremony: 2:30 p.m. at Roger McGuire Green Stage at Pack Square Park in downtown Asheville with the Army National Guard’s Army Band performing a half-hour before and after the ceremony. Admission is free.