Veterans' Day at the Fort Caswell Rifle Range Memorial

 

The above photo shows the musicians playing Taps at the Fort Caswell Rifle Range Memorial on Veterans' Day November 11, 2020, at 11:00 am:  Pictured left to right are Alex Gilland, a student at South Brunswick High School; Ben Edwards, the Director of Music and teacher at South Brunswick Middle School; and President of Brunswick Bands, Inc., musician, Dick Slease. 

Last month, Dick Slease, in the above photo,  President of Brunswick Bands, Inc., contacted Friends of Fort Caswell Rifle Range with a request. Dick wanted to organize a Taps Across America tribute at the rifle range on Veterans Day.

This was a continuation of the effort that began in May for Memorial Day. Because the pandemic caused the cancellation of commemorations, musicians were encouraged to play Taps wherever they stood at 3pm on Memorial Day. Across America, tens of thousands of soloists played Taps on porches, parking lots – wherever they were. According to CBS News (story link below), it was one of the largest musical performances of all time.

For Veterans Day, the musicians were urged to choose a World War I memorial. The Fort Caswell Rifle Range Memorial was the site chosen by the local musicians.

 

Before playing Taps, Dick made the following remarks:

Good morning and thank you for coming.

I’m Dick Slease, President of Brunswick Bands Inc., and joining me on this very special day is Ben Edwards, the Director of Music and teacher at South Brunswick Middle School and Alex Gilland who is a student at South Brunswick High School.

We are taking part in a nationwide event to honor those who served in all the armed forces which were necessary to the creation and defense of our country. This event is sponsored by Bugles Across America, an offshoot of Taps Across America, a nationwide conglomeration of brass instrumentalists who play Taps on their front porch at noon on Memorial Day in commemoration of those individuals whose lives were taken in the course of the defense of our country against enemies who only wanted to see our downfall.

Veterans Day, today is the day that we honor all who served and successfully defended our nation.  The Great War was declared ended when an armistice was signed in Northern France at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918. That event gave birth to “Armistice Day” on Nov. 11, 1919, the first anniversary of the end of World War I. Congress approved the burial of an unidentified American soldier from World War I in the plaza of Arlington National Cemetery’s new Memorial Amphitheater in March of 1921.

We are gathered here at the Ft. Caswell Rifle Pit to honor all veterans, but specifically, World War I veterans who served from Brunswick County, North Carolina.

Ladies and gentlemen, will you please stand proudly while Taps is sounded.

The next two photos are the presentation of a certificate to Lee Hinnant, Staff Writer of the State Port Pilot. We thought it was a good day to present this certificate to him.  Ron, Norma and Lee are in the next picture.  The last photo is of Norma and Lee.

Take a look at Lee's certificate of appreciation for his work.  Lee only missed one of our events since 2012.

Staff Writer, Lee Hinnant was presented an award from the Friends of Fort Caswell Rifle Range with gratitude and Recognition for his news coverage and attendance at all the events during the years 2012 - 2020.