Knightdale remembers fallen heroes, adds names to memorial

Lt. Gen. (Retired) Robert Ashley Jr. told the audience at the Knightdale Memorial Day Ceremony Monday that they should always keep alive the memory of all those who have died in service to the country.

“Remember every day as if it’s Memorial Day,” Ashley said.

Knightdale Mayor Jessica Day told those gathered for the ceremony that the Veterans Memorial is intentionally located at the center of town because the town wants to keep attention focused on those memorialized at the site.

“At the end of our program, I encourage you to look at their names,” Day said.

New names added to the memorial this year were Donald Gay Sr., Jerry Hall Sr., and Dudley Stallings, Air Force; Lyn Bell, John Lucas, Wallace Strader, and Wallace Strader Jr., Navy; C. Donnell Andrews, Clyde Crowder, Frederick Hopkins, William Keller Jr., Herbert Riley, Edwin Smith, and Robert Talley Sr., Army; and Douglas Snow, Marine Corps.

Those names are memorialized in the hearts of Knightdale residents, Day said, “and now will forever be in the heart of the town.”

Ashley, who lives in Wake Forest, shared stories of fallen heroes who impacted his own life as he served in Afghanistan in the Global War on Terror.

Ashley spoke about Pat Tillman, an NFL player who left his football career to become an Army Ranger and died in combat in Afghanistan; Laura Walker, the first woman killed in service to the Global War on Terror and the first female graduate of the United States Military Academy to die in combat; Tony Davis; and Sgt. Eric Newman.

All these are American heroes, he said, as are those memorialized in President Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address and all those who have died in service to the nation.

He said he was honored to assist in the planning of Walker’s funeral and to attend the funeral of Newman at a small country church in Waynesboro, Mississippi, where he presented the folded flag to Newman’s mother.

Ashley said those who have died in service to their country died for something bigger than themselves.

“They died for an idea,” Ashley said. “They died for those they love. They died for their brothers and sisters in arms.”

Juanita Snow, the widow of Douglas Snow, one of this year’s honorees on the Veterans Memorial, said in an interview after the ceremony that she appreciates the town’s work in memorializing veterans.

“The town of Knightdale has done such a wonderful job seeing this carried through,” Snow said.

Karen Snow Newtwon, who is the daughter of Douglas Snow, said her father’s name being on the memorial means a great deal to her.

“I can’t put it into words,” she said.

Douglas Snow’s son, Ronnie Snow, also expressed appreciation for the town’s recognition of his father’s service.

“It’s a big honor,” he said.

Juanita Snow said her late husband served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1954-1958. She said he was inspired to join the Marines by the service of an uncle in World War II.

Knightdale Police Chief Lawrence Capps in an interview before the ceremony said local first responders feel a strong bond with those who serve in the nation’s armed services, and share a willingness to face danger in order to protect others.

“It all does come back to a sense of community,” Capps said. “Those in our armed forces serve the national community, while our field of service is very focused on the people here at home.”

Capps said the town’s first responders are proud to help the town remember those who have given their lives in defense of the country. He said Memorial Day also provides an opportunity to reflect on the ongoing commitment to serve.

“I think there is an internal, intrinsic motivation to want to serve,” he said.

Those who have given their lives in service to their country did so in defense of freedom, he said.,
“That’s the freedom that we’re working to maintain with our individual service to our local communities,” Capps said. “When you think about those who have given their lives in service to our country, it’s important to pause on days like today and to give honor to those who made that sacrifice.”

The National Anthem and other music for the program was performed by the brass quintent from Corinth-Holders High School.

Pastor Jarrod Scott of Green Pines Baptist Church led the opening and closing prayers.

“Lord, may their tribe increase — not so much the death as the virtue and love that they represent,” Scott said in the closing prayer.

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