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CAP Participates in Memorial Day Events

Lee Heavlin, Commander, American Legion Post 6
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Lee Heavlin, Commander, American Legion Post 6, welcomes attendees to the flag-placing ceremony at the Chapel Hill Memorial Cemetery on May 23, 2015. Photo Credit: Capt Ron Long, DCC, MER-NC-150 (click image to view full size)
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Orange County Squadron places flags on veterans’ graves at local cemetery and attends Open House

By 2Lt Lynne Albert, CAP
PAO, Orange County Composite Squadron (MER-NC-150)

5/25/2015–HILLSBOROUGH, NC–Members of the Orange County Composite Squadron and their families participated in two Memorial Day events over the Memorial Day weekend. 

 
The first event occurred on May 23, 2015 when Squadron members assisted in the flag-placing ceremony at the Chapel Hill Memorial Cemetery in Chapel Hill, NC.  CAP members arrived at dawn to join Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), American Legionnaires, Boy Scouts and local citizens in placing American flags on the graves of veterans in the cemetery.  
 
“The early morning rising sun floods the cemetery to illuminate a field of over 500 flags gently blowing in the wind.  It is a humbling sight.  Each flag is placed by a volunteer who reads aloud the name of the interred veteran.  Many no longer have family in Chapel Hill.  They are not forgotten as long as their name is spoken aloud,” said Lee Heavlin, Commander, American Legion Post 6.
 
The May 23rd flag placement event was followed by a traditional Memorial Day Remembrance ceremony in the cemetery’s plaza area which recognized local veterans.
 
The second Memorial Day event occurred on Monday, May 25, 2015.  CAP cadets and Senior Members participated in the American Legion and VFW Memorial Day Ceremony and Open House at the American Legion Post in Chapel Hill.  The event began with a Memorial Day ceremony honoring veterans, followed by a wreath-laying at the Post flag pole and music by the Village Band.  During the Open house, the CAP members manned a booth marketing CAP and the local squadron.  Members of the public stopped by and many expressed interest in CAP and its’ missions. 
 
After the Memorial Day events, CAP Capt Ron Long stated, "CAP is honored to participate in these Memorial Day events.  It's important that we honor those who died to keep America free."