Veterans Day Observance

Join us for a ceremony in observance of those who have served our country featuring speakers from the Town of Cary and local armed forces community support groups.

Free parking (regular and handicap accessible) will be available at Cary Academy (1500 N. Harrison Ave.), which is located across the street from the Veterans Freedom Park. There will be a handicap accessible shuttle running from Cary Academy"s parking lot to the event at Veterans Freedom Park. There will also be a police provided crosswalk available to those who wish to walk from the parking lot instead of taking the shuttle.

Speakers and Entertainment
Paul Berry retired in 2016 from the United States Marine Corps as a Sergeant Major after 30 years of service. He has vast experience working with organizations that support our active duty, guard, reserve and veterans. Paul has many overseas deployments, including Somalia, Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan. He also served three years as the senior enlisted adviser to all of the Marine Corps recruiters in North Carolina. This is where Paul gained a greater understanding of the people of North Carolina and their commitment to the military and their families. His primary mission while in uniform was to take care of our military and their family members while deployed and when they return. After retiring from the Marine Corps, Paul and his wife moved to Raleigh to be closer to family. It was of paramount importance for him to continue taking care of our service members. Paul officially joined the USO of North Carolina  team as the NCServes network director and programs manager in October 2017.

Frank Stancil is a Navy veteran who served on the USS Fiske DDR 842 for most of his four years. Frank has been a member of the American Legion Cary Post 67 since 1984. On the post level Frank has served as Post commander, post adjutant and other areas of the Post. On the state level he served as district and division commander. On the national level, he served on several committees and commissions. Frank served as national commander’s aide for Past National Commander Ray Smith, 2000-2001 and in 2002 he was elected the alternate national executive committeeman and served 2002-2003. Frank was selected Veteran of the Year for Wake County in 1991-92 and was selected as the American Legion State of North Carolina’s Legionnaire of the Year in 1992-93. Frank was presented the the Order of the Long Leaf Pine by Governor Robert W. Scott in 1972. He has served on the NC National Convention Committee as vice president and treasurer for approximately twelve years.

Special Features
Carolina Veterans Support Group will be providing a Field of Flags. Sponsor a flag.

The Town will again offer toy soldiers that citizens can write a soldier"s name on and place in the memorial as a way to honor all of those who have served in the armed forces. These soldiers will be saved and placed in the monument every Memorial Day and Veterans Day.