Memorial Day a Mix of Ceremonies, Closings

In Raleigh, a wreath laying was staged at noon Monday at the Veterans' Monument on the north side of the Capitol.

Also at noon, the Charles T. Norwood American Legion Post 157 held its annual Memorial Day observance at Carolina Biblical Gardens on Creech Road. Maj. Robert E. Sanders, USAF Ret., delivered the addressed. Roll was called in memory of black soldiers from Raleigh who died in Vietnam. Norwood was the first known black soldier from Raleigh to have died in France in World War I.

In Cary, American Legion Post 67 conducted services Monday morning at Hillcrest Cemetery, off South Harrison Avenue. The speaker was Steve Guess, of the U.S. Dept. of Labor, Veterans Employment Training Services. There was a color guard, an honor guard and a firing of volleys.

At 5:30 p.m. Monday, Durham's American Legion Post 7 honored all veterans who have died since last Memorial Day. The ceremony was in the Veterans Section of Maplewood Cemetery. Durham Police Chief Theresa Chambers was the speaker.

A memorial observance held Sunday in Fayetteville continued long after the formalities ended.

Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 670 and members of the POW/MIA Freedom fighters held a solemn memorial service Sunday.

Participants released black balloons bearing the POW/MIA insignia. Each balloon includes information on 29 North Carolina soldiers still unaccounted for in Southeast Asia.

Each balloon also comes with an Internet address. That way, whoever finds the balloon can respond.

Also as part of the national observance, governmental and many business offices will be closed. Here in the Triangle, all post offices; state and county offices; banks and libraries will be closed. City offices are generally closed, except Durham's city offices are open.

Children have the day off in Durham, Johnston and Wake Counties. Orange County schools are open; Chapel Hill-Carrboro schools are closed. In Wake County, teachers in traditional schools have a workday.

Museums in Durham and Johnston Counties are open; in Wake and Orange museums are closed.

Both Wake and Durham Counties will have regular garbage pickup, although in Cary there will be no yard waste pickup Monday.

Parks will be open in Durham, Orange and Wake. Johnston County parks will be closed.

And, anyone who wants to visit a new park, check outHarris Lake Park, which just opened this weekend.