WS Chronicle

Overcast skies and the threat of rain didn’t stop hundreds from coming together Monday morning, May 30, to honor the men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice protecting our country.

During the Memorial Day service held at the Carolina Field of Honor in Kernersville, people of all ages and ethnic backgrounds stood side by side, as one of North Carolina’s newest cabinet members, Major General Cornell Wilson, led the festivities that included color guards, special music, a wreath laying, and other patriotic activities.

Prior to his appointment as Secretary of the N.C. Department of Military and Veterans Affairs last October, Gen. Wilson served as military advisor for the governor. He also chairs the governor’s working group on veterans, service members, and their families to ensure their needs are met through coordination with the Veterans Administration, state agencies and various other veterans’ organizations.

As he stood in front of the second largest memorial honoring veterans on the east coast, Gen. Wilson thanked our nation’s heroes and their families for their courage and valor.

“This Carolina Field of Honor is a fitting place to pay tribute to all the members of the United States Armed Forces who died in service for our country,” said Wilson. “A nation reveals itself not only by the men and women it produces, but also by the men and women it honors and remembers.”

Following the ceremony, dozens stood around admiring the memorial where over 150,000 veterans and their families find solace.  Army veteran and Winston-Salem native Jimmy Boyd said while serving his country, he learned that freedom is something that shouldn’t be taken for granted.

“When you visit some of these third world countries, you learn to respect the grounds we are standing on,” he continued. “That’s why it is important that we recognize these fallen veterans for the sacrifices they made to make this country safe and free.”

As people walked by and thanked him for his service, Korean War veteran from High Point Jerry Lakin said it was gratifying to see so many people come out and celebrate the nation’s fallen warriors. Lakin, a former Marine, noted although many of those he fought beside have passed away, he appreciates other veterans and their families’ paying attention and coming together to give thanks.

“Some veterans lead very lonely lives,” he said. “These types of events are very special to me because it lets me and other veterans know that what we did was not in vain.

“Most of all, I appreciate the people who are here. It really means a lot.”