Memorial Day Ceremony 2025

Frederick Walton - 5/28/2025

On Monday, May 26, 2025, The Calabash Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) post 7288, located on Carter Drive in Calabash, was overloaded with well wishers, cheerfully dressed in red, white and blue, who took the time to to remember those that made the supreme sacrifice, having given their lives so we can enjoy the freedom we often take for granted. 

An honor guard from the West Brunswick High School ROTC posted the colors to begin the ceremony. These young people wore their uniforms proudly and paraded the flag with conviction giving onlookers the pride and confidence that there are those in the younger generation ready to carry on America’s proud military traditions.  
 
Auxiliary Senior Vice President Cathy Milstead led the group in the pledge of allegiance and a rousing singing of the National Anthem. Post Chaplain Jim Stueve offered the opening Prayer.
 
"Who were these individuals we pause to honor and praise?” asked keynote speaker and  post commander, Michael DiChiara.  "They were ordinary human beings, just like us. But what they accomplished was EXTRAORDINARY! They answered the call to duty, thereby giving us the freedoms we enjoy today, tomorrow and for all the tomorrows of our future.” 
 

Memorial day is a sacred day to all veterans of war, their friends and family. They need no reminders of why we must commemorate the fallen hero’s. When your parent, child or sibling never returns, that empty seat will never be forgotten, but what about the rest of us? Do most non-veterans really recognize the importance of this day?  Sacrifice is meaningless without remembrance, which is why the citizens of a free nation need to pause and remember the sacrifices of our countrymen and woman who died on our behalf. Our freedoms were paid for with the lives of fellow citizens we never knew, but should never forget. That is why this day of remembrance is important.


Memorial day has become synonymous with the start of summer. Memorial day sales, backyard barbecues, pools opening for the season, visits to the beach, spending time with your family and friends, and enjoying the pleasant outdoor weather.  We often forget who gave us that freedom. Auxiliary President Wayne Wezska thanked the attendees for taking time out of their busy weekend to attend the ceremony and honor the fallen Veterans. The VFW Auxiliary’s mission to provide "unwavering support for uncommon heroes”.

Wezska honored deceased Auxiliary members with a memorial wreath and a somber reading of their names. This was followed by the Commander, Mike DiChiara, who read the role of post 7288 veterans who passed during the last year, punctuated by the tolling of a bell for each name. After the presentation of a wreath, a rifle salute was fired, followed by Taps.
 
Commander elect Wayne Grigsby gave the closing remarks, again thanking the attendees and drawing attention to a table in the back where visitors could fill in a memorial card to remember the deceased veterans in their lives. General Grigsby mentioned the combat soldiers under his command who gave their lives. They will live on in his memory and now the memory of those attending. This is what memorial day is all about. Memory. May we never forget.
 
The VFW Calabash post 7288 welcomes Combat Veterans. If you have served in the U.S. Military, served in a combat zone and were honorably discharged, then you may be eligible to become a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Stop by the post for more information and to join this group of friendly comrades.
 

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