TARBORO —
By MIRANDA BAINES
The Daily Southerner
“What is a veteran?”
In this case it’s the 92-year-old man sitting in the crowd, straining to hear the words of the speaker because his work on airplanes during World War II left him hard of hearing. His name is Truman Spain, and, like many others, he listened to the words of a tribute to veterans read by Marcia Cherry on the Town Common in Tarboro Monday morning. The occasion of the remarks was the local observance of Veterans Day.
“So remember, next time you see someone who has served your country, just lean over and say, ‘Thank you,’” Cherry, patriotism chair of the Pilot Club of Tarboro, told the audience.
Like many veterans, Spain does not expect a lot of praise for his service, just a simple acknowledgement.
“They just want a little pat on the back,” he said.
Spain enlisted in the Army Air Corps after hearing the news of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. He served four years, until the end of the war.
“I told them, ‘When I go out with you to work, I’ll help you, but I want you to know that when this is over, I’m going home to my family. That [war] is hard on family,” Spain said.
Spain’s daughter, Melodie Menke, is a U.S. Navy veteran.
“We’ve both worn the cloth of the nation, so that’s something we share as a family — the understanding that freedom is not free,” Menke said. Her husband, James, retired last year after a 30-year career as a hospital corpsman in the Navy.
A lifetime member of American Legion Post No. 428, Spain led veterans’ ceremonies as the commander of his post in his native Illinois, and appreciated Monday’s ceremony.
“It was wonderful. I think they did a wonderful job,” he said.
Another veteran, Alfred Iappini, expressed his gratitude for Monday’s tribute.
“It was really moving to see all these people who came out here,” said Iappini, who served in the Air Force during Vietnam.
“It was just magnificent, very poignant,” Iappini’s wife, Ann, said, in reference to the subject matter of Monday’s service and the picturesque setting. Like the autumn leaves swirling through the air on the Town Common, veterans are all around us.
“Just respect them. You’ve got a lot of them that are down and out and people just walk right by them,” Iappini said.
Iappini and his wife, Ann, are from Boston. They were on a visit to their godson, John Vaudo, vice-commander of Eason Tiney American Legion Post 19 in Tarboro. During the presentation of service flags by the Air Force JROTC from Tarboro High School, Vaudo shared the motto and history of each military branch as the song of each branch was played and its raised. Vaudo asked veterans who were able to stand as their branch’s song was played.
While the songs were playing, 9-year-old Hannah Clark joyfully waved her hand-held American flag, bfter the ceremony was over she was crying. When asked why, she replied, “Because someone died.”
“I don’t know how you ever say, ‘Thank you’ to the people who served. That’s an amazing sacrifice,” said Spain’s daughter. Anne Tellier. “I really appreciate everything our veterans have done to keep our country free.”
The ceremonies at the Veterans Memorial were one of three held in the community on Monday, including an early morning gathering at the flagpole at Vidant Edgecombe Hospital and a late morning observance at Edgecombe Community College.
“Some gave all, but all gave some,” said George Young at the Vidant flagpole earlier in the day, An Army veteran, Young is assistant director for American Legion Riders Post 19 North Carolina,
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John Vaudo, vice-commander of American Legion Post 19 in Tarboro salutes during the playing of the National Anthem Tuesday during the Veterans Day Program on the Town Common.
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George Young, a U.S. Army veteran and assistant director for American Legion Riders Chapter 19 North Carolina, led a group of people at the Vidant Edgecombe Hospital flagpole in a prayer for veterans and the pledge of allegiance Monday morning.
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Spain
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Hannah Clark, 9, waves her American flag while the Tarboro JROTC raised the service flags during Tarboro’s Veterans Day Service.
Tarboro celebrates Veterans Day
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Here is your chance to celebrate your graduate’s Special Day by announcing their graduation in our Congratulation Page.
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Hats Off To Our Graduates!
The announcements will appear in The Daily Southerner on June 7, 2013.
Deadline for placing announcements will be Tuesday, June 4th by 5:00pm.
All ads must be pre-paid. Information can be dropped off at our office 504 W. Wilson Street, Tarboro or call 823-3106. - Early college seniors graduate
- Law enforcement urges teen drivers to drive safely during holiday
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Hats Off To Our Graduates!
- Local News
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Dr. Deborah Lamm, president of Edgecombe Community College, received the national ACT Career Preparedness Award on behalf of the college Tuesday. Shown from left to right are Dr. Jon Whitmore, ACT CEO; Scott Montgomery, ACT vice president; Sid Baker, education program specialist, NC Office of the State Superintendent; Dr. Lamm; and Virginia Edwards; editor-in-chief, Education Week.
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Edgecombe Community College receives national award
Edgecombe Community College (ECC) received a national award Tuesday night for its efforts to prepare students to be successful in careers and the workplace.
Edgecombe was among four honorees that received national awards in Washington, D.C., during a gala that concluded ACT’s inaugural College and Career Readiness Campaign. - County gospel choir to celebrate 20th anniversary
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Edgecombe Community College receives national award
- Sports
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14-Under softball tryout
The Tarboro Parks and Recreation Department and Edgecombe County Girls Softball League will be having tryouts for 14-under girls fast-pitch softball Wednesday, May 29 from 7 - 8:30 p.m. at Farmington Park in Rocky Mount. The is located at 319 Wellington Dr. There will also be a tryout Thursday, May 30 at Indian Lake Sports Complex on field 1 in Tarboro from 6 - 7:30 p.m. There is a $10 fee for Tarboro residents and a $35 fee for non-residents. For more information call the sports complex at 641-4202, Kathy Webb 252-813-4697 or Jamie Lindsey 252-883-0883 or sftbllgrlunc@hotmail.com.
- Thorne tabbed Regional Player of the Year
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14-Under softball tryout
- Opinion
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My 13 years have been lucky
It was 13 years Sunday that a drought was broken in Big Spring, Texas, After that, we ate Mexican for dinner with a gathering of family and friends.
The next day, a Saturday, Stephanie and I joined one another in marriage under a beautiful little gazebo by Comanche Trail Lake, fed by the historic spring from which the community draws its name.
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My 13 years have been lucky
- Lifestyles
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Corbett/Chasse Wedding
Brittney Joyce Corbett and Kenneth Robert Chasse, Jr. were united in marriage on April 6th, 2013, at 5:30pm at the Imperial Centre in Rocky Mount. The Rev. Carrol Bradbury officiated the ceremony.
The Rehearsal Dinner was hosted by Shirley and Donald Foreman, Grandparents of the Groom and also Elisha and Kenneth Chasse, Parents of the Groom, at Pizza Inn in Rocky Mount.
The Bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Durwood Corbett of Macclesfield, NC. The Groom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Robert Leonel Chasse, Sr. of Pinetops, NC.
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- Obituaries Archives
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CURTIS LEE DAVIS
PRINCEVILLE — Curtis Lee Davis, 60, died Sunday, May 19, 2013. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 25, 2013 at the St. Luke Missionary Baptist Church (2225 N.C. Hwy 97 East) with burial in the Morning Family Cemetery.
Arrangements under direction of Dickens Funeral Service. - IRENE EVANS
- SHIRLEY A. GOLDSTON
- JOHNNY LEE LAWRENCE
- CECILIA AMANDA PUDDY
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CURTIS LEE DAVIS
- Food
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Great fondue
My husband and I love to entertain. We also love fondue. I have 4 or 5 fondue pots. I use them regularly. Some of them I have had for a long time.
Fondue began as a way to use up old, hardened cheese. The original fondue was cheese with wine. You then dipped hardened pieces of bread into the mixture. In America, the 1950's was the height of the fondue craze. However, it appears to be making a comeback. - Budget Friendly Deliciousness
- Barbeque Bests
- Coffee isn't just a drink
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- Events
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Edgecombe Events May 24
Edgecombe Events should be submitted by noon the day before publication. Items eligible include notices of local meetings and activities of non-profit organizations, clubs, schools and civic groups in the community. Information should be brief and typewritten, neatly printed or via e-mail. Questions? 823-3106 or e-mail: events@dailysoutherner.com. Leave a daytime contact phone number.
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Edgecombe Events May 24
- Our Community
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Edgecombe Garden Club honors members
The Edgecombe Garden Club met May 1 for their noon luncheon at the Fountains of the Albemarle. After President Pauline Nicolosi greeted everyone, Sandra Joyner, Devotion Chairman, read “Torch” which was about our tongues torching good or evil.
Hostess Barbara Getzug described her specially designed flower arrangement of mock orange, snowball, purple columbine, and many varieties of roses. President Pauline, Hostesses Gloria Wall and Louise Fleming did the table arrangements. They contained wiegelia, azalea, ivy, mock orange, and ligustrum. - DAR AWARDS
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