City to honor the fallen

The city of Mount Airy will do its part to remember military members who have died in service to their country during a Memorial Day service next Monday.

That event, scheduled for 10 a.m. at the Mount Airy War Memorial on the corner of South Main and Rockford streets, will feature remarks by U.S. Marine Corps veteran Dave Dinkins as its guest speaker.

Deborah Cochran, a member of the Mount Airy Board of Commissioners, will serve as emcee for the program and read a special city government proclamation in honor of the occasion.

“It is important to remember fallen heroes,” she observed in looking ahead to Monday’s event. “Their families display pictures on the mantels, on headstones and mementos of a life not fully lived.”

Cochran believes Memorial Day 2024 has extra significance in light of recent activities on college campuses triggered by the Israel-Hamas war.

“It is heart-wrenching to hear some people shouting ‘death to America’ on U.S. soil when soldiers have bled and died for our country, so we can have peace and prosperity,” she commented.

“They made the ultimate sacrifice for the sake of freedom.”

In addition to speakers, local military-oriented groups will be represented at Monday’s service, including the North Surry High School Junior ROTC and Veterans of Foreign Wars Honor Guard members.

Program lineup

The complete schedule is to include these activities:

• A call to order by Commissioner Cochran;

• The raising of the American flag by the City of Mount Airy Honor Guard;

• A singing of the national anthem led by Suzanne Stewart;

• A group recital of the Pledge of Allegiance:

• An invocation by Pastor D.M. Dalton, Mount Airy Ministerial Association president;

• The reading of the city Memorial Day proclamation by Commissioner Cochran;

• Guest speaker Dave Dinkins;

• The placing of the wreath by the City of Mount Airy Honor Guard;

• A flag-folding ceremony by the North Surry High School Air Force Junior ROTC;

• A rifle volley salute by the Veterans of Foreign Wars Memorial Honor Guard of Mount Airy Post 2019 and VFW Memorial Honor Guard Post 9436 from Pilot Mountain;

• The playing of “Taps” by those two groups.

Organizers are urging everyone to attend Monday’s gathering at the war memorial, an appropriate setting due to it containing the names of all Surry Countians who have made the ultimate sacrifice in America’s various conflicts.

“Memorial Day is a day of remembrance,” an announcement from City Hall states.

“This event offers citizens a chance to recognize, honor and remember military men and women in protection of our country today and in the past.”