Officials honor veterans with words, deeds

Gov. Beverly Perdue spoke Thursday morning at the North Carolina State Veterans Home in Fayetteville.

"This community has wrapped their arms around all of you," Perdue told the dozens of veterans attending the ceremony. “Fayetteville and Fort Bragg have figured out how to do a masterful job of (taking care of veterans).“

The 150-bed veterans home is one of two operated by the state – the other is in Salisbury – and is located next to the VA Medical Center in Fayetteville. The governor said she wants the state to build two more veterans homes – one in Asheville and one in Kinston.

"I believe so fundamentally that people who have given their service and parts of their lives – their families – to the people of America and the people of North Carolina deserve a marvelous, marvelous place where they can get the best physical, mental and social care possible," she said.

The veterans who attended the ceremony, which included a wreath-laying, said they appreciate having a place where they can be with their comrades.

Fayetteville officials already are looking toward Veterans Day 2011, announcing a series of events to honor Vietnam veterans.

Mayor Tony Chavonne said the 10-day Heroes Homecoming event would promote understanding and celebration of the Vietnam era in Fayetteville's history. Hundreds of thousands of soldiers passed through Fort Bragg on their way to fight in Southeast Asia.

Elsewhere across North Carolina, 13th District Congressman Brad Miller volunteered with American Legion Auxiliary members, Boy Scouts and others who made repairs and performed yard work at the home of a Marine veteran in eastern Wake County.

In Raleigh, Army, Navy, Marine and Air Force ROTC members from North Carolina State University ran to the school's Bell Tower early Thursday during one of the oldest Veterans Day activities in the nation.

After the run, residents of Compiegne, France, presented a wreath to Raleigh leaders to honor the 35 N.C. State students and staff who died in World War I.

Compiegne became Raleigh's Sister City more than 20 years ago. A wreath given by the Sister Cities Association of Raleigh will be presented during a ceremony in Compiegne.