Freedom isn't free: Memorial Day ceremony held in Fayetteville's Freedom Memorial Park

From the Washington, DC, to cities across the country, communities paused to honor those who paid the ultimate price for our freedom this Memorial Day.

Locally, there are a number of Memorial Day ceremonies and events.

In Cumberland County, many gathered for a special service at Freedom Memorial Park.

"This is their park and their memories, so we can take a few minutes every year to just remember where our freedom comes from," said park curator Don Talbot.

Any one of those in the small crowd could tell you a story about a loved one who served – and why the day is so special and emotional for them.

Joseph Allen, president of the Sgt. Majors Association, remembered a brother in arms.

"Command Sgt. Maj. Watts. Watts and I, we were in Iraq around the same time," Allen said. "I got back to the states, and two weeks later I got a call saying that Watts was killed over there."

The weather many have impacted the size of the crowd in attendance, but it didn't dampen the spirits of those who came out to honor those who paid the ultimate sacrifice for our country. Bagpipes played and wreaths were placed at monuments that honor those who have fallen in just about every war in which Americans fought and died.

"Especially the guys and gals that have been deployed a lot, we look at it a little bit differently," Allen said. "We continually think about those guys and gals we lost in combat every day. I mean, they're never far from our mind because they were our friends and comrades."

The fallen were honored with a gun salute and the rendering of Taps. Those still unaccounted for during war were remembered with the Missing Man ceremony.

WRAL's Fayetteville Reporter Gilbert Baez, who is a former Ranger qualified officer who served at Fort Bragg, said it was a very moving ceremony for him.

While the service was going on, he walked around taking around taking pictures when he was approached by a gentleman who came up and asked, "Are they going to be reading the names of this monument?"

The man said, with an awful lot of emotion in his voice, "I had a lot of friends die in Vietnam."

Then he walked away.

On this national holiday known as the unofficial start of summer, it was a solemn reminder: Freedom isn't free.

Rolesville honors fallen with Memorial Mile

The town of Rolesville honored those who served with their annual "Memorial Mile."

The mile was along Trail A at Main Street Park, with signs displaying the names of the men and women who served, their dates of service and their ranks.

WRAL News talked with Ethan Lerzundy, a seventh grader who performed on the trumpet during the flag ceremony, who said he wanted to use his talents to show his appreciation.

"In school we learned about World War II, and World War I and the Cold War Era," Lerzundy said. "That appealed to me. The bravery they must have had to fight through these wars, I just felt it was a great opportunity to show my gratitude."

Historic Oakwood Cemetery commemorates new Field of Honor during annual ceremony

The Historic Oakwood Cemetery held its Memorial Day ceremony inside its new Veteran's Field of Honor.

The ceremony featured Dan McNeill as a keynote speaker for the event. McNeill was an Army general who served as both the commanding general of the 82nd Airborne Division and a commanding general with the Unite State Army Forces Command.

Music was provided by the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing Band, and the event had the annual placing of the memorial wreath.