Memorial Day services honoring veterans who made the ultimate sacrifice are planned for Henderson and Transylvania counties on May 27.
For Henderson County, the 38th annual Memorial Day Service begins at 11 a.m. at Forest Lawn Funeral Home and Memorial Park, 538 Tracy Grove Road in Hendersonville.
An invocation will be followed by the singing of the national anthem, the Pledge of Allegiance and the traditional flag folding ceremony by the West Henderson High Falcon Battalion Army JROTC. After a speech there will be a wreath laying ceremony.
Prior to the ceremony, members of the Transylvania Cruisers Club will meet at 9:30 a.m. in the parking lot behind American Legion Post 77 on Washington Street. According to a press release, the cars will leave for Forest Lawn at 10 a.m. with a police escort.
Members of the club invite all veterans to join the caravan to Forest Lawn. The classic cars will line up in a semicircle around the stage for the Forest Lawn ceremony.
After the ceremony, refreshments, including a barbecue lunch, will be offered to the first 300 people, the release said.
Transylvania County’s Memorial Day ceremony begins at 10 a.m. in the gazebo of the Transylvania County Courthouse, 7 E. Main St., Brevard.
The ceremony begins with Emmett Casciato, founder of the Veterans History Museum of the Carolinas, singing the national anthem. The national anthem will be followed by the invocation delivered by retired U.S. Army Colonel Richard Bennett, chaplain of the Transylvania County Honor Guard.
Retired U.S. Marine Col. Larry Chapman, Transylvania County Commissioner, will deliver welcome address, followed by a poem reading from retired U.S. Marine Corps Commander Larry J. Hammontree, the commander of American Legion Post 88.
The guest speaker will be retired U.S. Air Force Col. Art Cole. Following the speech, there will be a special presentation by retired U.S. Navy Master Chief Jones, followed by a wreath laying ceremony followed by the playing of “Taps” by the Transylvania County Honor Guard.
This article originally appeared on the Hendersonville Times-News: Hendersonville, Brevard to host Memorial Day services
