BY NICOLE BOWMAN-LAYTON/STAFF WRITER

During a Veterans Day ceremony on Monday, Edenton Mayor Hackney High Jr. thanked the nation’s veters who made sacrifices he and others in the community could not.

Hosted by American Legion Post 40, the annual ceremony honors those who have served in the United States military and those who currently serve. About 100 people attended the ceremony at Veterans Park in Edenton.

High asked those who are retired military, members of Gold Star families (whose family member died while serving) and active duty military members to stand.

High and the audience applauded those standing in the grassy field near the Veterans Monument under a partly cloudy sky.

High noted that he is humbled by the veterans’ sacrifice, bravery and their service-above-self mentality.

“And probably most importantly, as I stand here before you, I am most humbled by the fact that no matter what I’ve done in my life up until this point in time, and no matter what I do with the rest of my life, it’ll pale in comparison to what you, ladies and gentlemen, have done for all of us,” he said.

Just as he recently told Chowan County’s first-responders during a recent annual banquet, High told the veterans in attendance that they have “the guts and courage to do the things that I cannot do and that most other people cannot do.”

He told the veterans that he wanted them to leave the ceremony “knowing how much all Americans appreciate you giving us the very freedoms that we enjoy today. We thank you for your service. We thank you for your valor, and we thank you for your sacrifices.”

In the book by John Maxwell, former Great Britain Prime Minister Winston Churchill is quoted as saying, “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give,” High said.

“The list of what you have given and the list of what you have given up is endless, and by any measure, you have given and given up far more than you ever will receive,” he told the veterans. “You have given us the opportunity to live in the freest country in the world.”

High also noted that in the book, Maxwell encourages readers to serve others with love.

“When I think of all of our veterans and I look at you, look at your faces, it is so hard for me to find a greater example and expression of love for your country and fellow Americans than by serving in our nation’s armed forces,” he said. “Thank you for your service. Thank you for your valor, and thank you for your bravery. And thank you, most importantly, for loving us and loving our country so much that you put your health and your life lives on the line for us. May God continue to bless our veterans and this country. “

Also during the ceremony, Post Vice Commander Edward Mathews, who served as the master of ceremonies, noted the difference between Memorial Day and Veterans Day.

Memorial Day is a day of remembering and honoring military personnel who died in service of their country.

“In particular, we honor those who died in batter or as a result of their wounds sustained in battle,” Mathews said. “Veterans Day, while all of those who died are also remembered, this day is set aside to thank and honor all those who have served honorably in the military, in wartime and peacetime. “

He noted that more than 41 million Americans have served in the United States military throughout the country’s history. As of 2023, over 18 million veterans lived in the United States.

“We set aside this day to thank them for their service, to acknowledge that their contributions to our national security are appreciated, and to underscore the fact that all those who served, not only those who passed, have sacrificed and done their duty with honor,” he said of Veterans Day.

Also during the ceremony, Post 40 Chaplain Calvin Capehart prayed that the program inspired people to continue their deep respect for “those who have paid the ultimate price for the freedoms we all enjoy.”

“We ask also that you keep watch over us, and that you will comfort our comrades who are suffering mentally and physically disabled,” he said.

Besides Post 40 members, those helping with the ceremony included the John A. Holmes High School JROTC Color Guard, Scouts from BSA Troop 164, American Legion Unit 40 Auxiliary, Albemarle Sound Submarine Veterans and Edenton Tea Party Chapter NSDAR.

Veteran Rae Ohlert led the attendees in the singing of the National Anthem and “God Bless America.”