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Let’s start Memorial Day off bright, right and early.

Triad residents are invited to attend a special flag-raising ceremony at the Friendly Center this Memorial Day. The ceremony starts promptly at 8 a.m., so guests are urged to arrive by 7:45 a.m.
This patriotic, annual event is sponsored by the Marine Corps League of Greater Greensboro Detachment 260.

In full military dress, active-duty Marines will perform a flag raising. They will remind us of those now serving our country in uniform and those who died defending our country.

This will be the last Greensboro Memorial Day event that Maj. Gregory Wynn, a 15-year career Marine, will participate in. He has been selected for promotion to lieutenant colonel this fall and has been assigned to be the executive officer and Marine instructor for all New York City area Naval ROTC units. He will work working on college campuses, primarily SUNY Maritime and Fordham.

Major Irma Lopez from Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, will replacing Wynn as the local Marine Inspector Instructor.

Departing Greensboro in June, Wynn leaves behind many memories of inspirational moments when he spoke to Greensboro League 260 and in the community.

When I heard him last Memorial Day, he thanked those who attended and said, “Today by our flag-raising honors, attendance and ceremony, we recognize those that have given all.”

“In between our day off, shopping and parties, we do a great disservice to our nation and ourselves if we do not take time to pause quietly, with a sense of occasion, and reflect on the nature of citizenship, sacrifice, and history.

“This country is great because of those that carried the burden of defending us over the last centuries — and are currently doing so.”
Wynn said all who serve in uniform don’t necessarily wish for “support or “appreciation,” but rather they hope that what they do in the military really matters, is for a just cause and that generations to come will remember that, when it mattered, they did their part.
He spoke of Decoration Day, which marked an opportunity to remember fallen veterans of the Civil War.

During the Civil War, combined American fatalities — both North and South — exceeded 600,000.

Adding up all the casualties of our wars from the Revolution to Korea, those who died in those wars do not equal the total loss during the Civil War.

Virtually an entire generation of young men gave “the last full measure of devotion during the Civil War.”

Wynn had the complete attention of his Memorial Day audience as he stressed, “For every insurgent who is killed, for every young American who returns home safely or in a flag-draped casket, or for every hungry child, victim of a natural disaster that is given some relief by a uniformed American — all of this impacts us and will continue to do so for years to come.”

There are residents of Greensboro and the Triad who have paid the ultimate price of sacrifice in our current conflicts, he said.

Wynn will be missed. On Memorial Day, he reminded us once again that the raising of our American flag is an action steeped in more than 200 years of our history and has flown in triumph at such places as Iwo Jima and the moon.

“It has also served and comforted us in tragedy, most notably by blanketing the caskets of those killed in the service of this country,” Wynn said.

In addition to events such as the flag raising on Memorial Day, Commandant Danny Bracken of League 260 said the League does many things for the community. They include:

• Scholarships for Marine family children
• Eagle Scout recognition awards
• Funds for distressed former Marines and family members
• Assisting league members and families
• School band and exercise recognition program awards
• Young Marine Program
• Toys for Tots
• Helping wounded Marines from Iraq and Afghanistan or other hostile zones

The Greater Greensboro Detachment 260 budget for 2009-2010 is about $50,000.

Money is raised through the Wounded Warriors Golf Tournament and through donations of people who share their passion of helping young people and “rendering assistance to all Marines, former Marines as well as to their widows and orphans.” Donations are always welcomed.

Bracken said for the first time, the National Marine Corps League convention for 2010 will be at the Koury Convention Center in Greensboro.

“This event has never been held in North Carolina,” Bracken said, “even though the founder, John A. LeJeune has a camp in North Caroling named after him — Camp Lejeune.”

For information on Marine League No. 260, contact Commandant Danny Bracken by e-mail at dfbracken@bellsouth.net or call him at
399-1017.

To nominate a person who has or is making a difference in the lives of others, contact Peggy Longmire at rlongmire@triad.rr.com or 288-9040.