"This is a tough day for veterans” said a somber Wayne Grigsby, commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Calabash Post 7288 and combat veteran who served in the Middle East. "A tough day...” he repeated softly, as he gave the opening remarks for the May 25, 2026 Memorial Day observance at the VFW Hall at 900 Carter Drive in Calabash. "Today is not the unofficial start of summer. It is not a day for sales, celebrations, BBQs, and Beach Day. It is a day of sacred remembrance. We are here today to pay tribute to the men and women who gave their last full measure of devotion to this nation. We are here to honor their memory.”
The VFW hall was packed to overflowing and there was not a parking space to be had. Veterans, their families and their friends, cheerfully dressed in red, white and blue, despite the gloomy weather, took the time to remember those that made the supreme sacrifice, having given their lives so we can enjoy the freedom we often take for granted.
Post Commander Wayne Grigsby welcomed the large crowd of attendees. He began by introducing an unscheduled, surprise speaker, the 40th president of the United States from 1981 to 1989, Ronald Reagan. He was recorded on May 31, 1982 sharing remarks as meaningful today as they were then. "Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We did not pass it to our children in the blood stream. It must be fought for, protected and handed out for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and children’s children what it was like in the USA where men were once free.”
Grigsby next introduced VFW Calabash Post 7288 Auxiliary President Cathy Milstead who led the group in the Pledge Of Allegiance and a rousing singing of the National Anthem. Post Chaplain George Welford offered the opening Prayer.
Commander Grigsby introduced the keynote speaker, Herbert Kaler, a retired U. S. Navy Rear Admiral. Kaler, a graduate of Notre Dame, was commissioned in the U. S. Navy in May 1969. He was assigned to the USS Enterprise, which was shortly thereafter deployed to a combat zone in the Tonkin Gulf during the Vietnam War. Kaler’s 31 year Naval career gave him many challenges and opportunities. "I do not want to minimize the extraordinary efforts of the Army, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard and other naval forces” but today he chose to focus on one individual. A classmate and friend, a Navy pilot who, on many occasions, landed his A-6 Intruder on the deck of the USS Midway full of bullet holes in the fuselage. Then there was that single occasion when he didn’t return. An enemy surface to air missile hit his jet and Lt. Michael McCormick crashed into an unnamed hill somewhere in the jungles of Vietnam. Mike had participated in 103 strike and 83 direct support missions in Vietnam before that fateful day. He left behind a wife and a two year old son. His parents, friends, classmates and comrades would join in their grief for him. From his death in 1973 until his remains were finally repatriated in 2003, no one knew where he was, but he was never forgotten.
Kaler shared this personal story to remind us why this day of remembrance is important. You may not have lost a family member, but it’s probable that someone you know did. "Today, as we pay tribute to our absent friends, let us determine to assure those who have best earned it, our veterans and first responders, that we will give proper recognition and remembrance to the ones we lost and provide medical care for the wounds and infirmities of the survivors.” He closed by reminding the audience that we often forget to recognize the sacrifice of the families, who had the tough job of supporting their veterans while they served at far away posts, protecting our freedoms. "If we truly want to honor the dead, then we must help the living, remembering the surviving veterans and their families. Let us be determined that no veteran is homeless, unemployed or sick and alone.”
Auxiliary President Cathy Milstead returned to the podium to honor the memory of the deceased Auxiliary members by reading a touching poem entitled "When I must leave you”. Members of the Auxiliary placed a wreath, the emblem of eternity, to immortalize the deeds of the Auxiliary members who have passed during the year, after a somber reading of their names. This was followed by the Post Chaplain, George Welford, who read the final roll call of the 17 Post 7288 veterans who passed during the last year, including the post’s last WWII Veteran, Leo Jarmusz, who died in March at age 106. As each name was read, a bell tolled, the fading of its echoing ring reminding us that these honored veterans, though no longer with us will not be forgotten. After the presentation of a wreath, a rifle salute was fired, followed by a single bugle playing Taps.
Commander Wayne Grigsby gave the closing remarks, again thanking the attendees for taking time to attend and fill the VFW Hall. Grigsby closed by saying "I challenge you, sometime today, before this day is out, walk around a cemetery, look at the names, the ones with the flags on them, read their names, remember them. I carry a book, with me, of the 39 soldiers I lost in combat, I remember their names, I read every one of them this morning. Call out their names, let them know they are remembered. That’s the only reason we have this post, because of what they did for us. They gave up their today so we can have a tomorrow. Let’s not forget them.”
Team VFW Post 7288 builds camaraderie among United States Veterans of overseas conflicts and the Auxiliary in order to serve Veterans, the military, our community and advocates on behalf of all Veterans. If you are a veteran that served in a war zone you may be eligible to become a regular member. If you have a family member who served in a war zone you may become a member of the Post's Auxiliary. Come by the Post to see what we are all about and pick up a membership form.
