Bayborn Memorial Chapter holds Memorial Day service at North Carolina Veterans Cemetery

Stan Walker, commander of Bayborn Memorial Chapter 642 of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, opened a Memorial Day ceremony at the North Carolina Veterans Cemetery and asked attendees to rise while the colors were presented.

Chaplain Stankowski led the invocation, praying for gold star families and "those who gave their last full measure of devotion," and closed both the opening and the final prayers asking for comfort for the families of the fallen and protection for those currently serving.

Stan Walker introduced guest speaker retired Col. John Kafka, who said, "Memorial Day is the toughest day for any marine to stand up and talk about this day," and shared two recollections: one about making casualty notifications and the other about flag etiquette and the limits of the flag code. Kafka thanked service members and families and offered blessings for the nation.

Following the remarks, multiple presenters read aloud the names of service members who died since the previous Memorial Day. The ceremony recorded many names from the community roll call and concluded the reading with an expression of thanks to attendees.

A wreath was laid by the senior vice commander, the guest speaker and gold star wife Michelle Shea; the honor guard then fired a rifle salute. Vocalists Jesse Hanley and Jane Sutton performed the national anthem earlier in the program and later sang "God Bless America."

Walker closed the service by thanking navy corpsmen and volunteers in attendance and offering final remarks on behalf of the chapter. The ceremony concluded with service songs and an expression of gratitude to those present.