Veterans Day Ceremony honors service and sacrifice at American Legion Post 40

BY NICOLE BOWMAN-LAYTON

EDENTON — Army veteran and keynote speaker Ashley Gallop West urged veterans Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2025, to “continue to let your light shine” through community service, delivering an inspiring message at American Legion Post 40’s Veterans Day ceremony that resonated with the post’s ongoing mission to serve those in need.

There were many Veterans Day ceremonies held on Nov. 11, 2025. Unfortunately, we were unable to attend all of them. If you would like the Albemarle Observer to publish information about a local ceremony, please send information to albemarle.observer@gmail.com or mileslayton1969@gmail.com.

The call to continued service comes as Post 40 works to locate and assist 15 homeless veterans in Chowan County and supports the local food pantry, which has seen increased demand in recent months. Post Commander Ed Matthews made direct appeals for community help during the ceremony, emphasizing that no one should go hungry, especially during the upcoming holiday season.

Despite a quarter-inch of snowfall that forced a last-minute venue change from Veterans Memorial Park to the Legion hall, about 100 community members gathered to honor America’s veterans and hear West’s message about the enduring impact of military service.

“This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine,” West sang throughout her address, connecting the familiar song to veterans’ ongoing contributions. “Veterans, don’t hide your light. Continue to let it shine. Don’t hide your service. Continue to let it shine. Don’t hide your work. Continue to let it shine.”

A Message of Continued Purpose

West, a bestselling author and veterans’ advocate who has over 28 years of service in the federal government, emphasized that service doesn’t end with military duty. She highlighted that North Carolina’s 615,440 veterans — representing 7.5% of the state’s population — continue making meaningful contributions through volunteering in schools, food banks, civic organizations, and churches.

“We might not be wearing combat boots any longer. We might not be jumping out of perfectly good airplanes,” West said. “Many of us have found new ways to let our light shine through our service in our churches, through our service in our schools, through our service to our community.”

Community Needs and Post 40’s Response

Matthews’ announcements underscored the ongoing needs in the local community. He revealed that Post 40 is actively searching for the 15 homeless veterans living in Chowan County to provide assistance, and urged anyone with information to contact the Legion or local churches.

The post commander also appealed for donations to the local food pantry, noting that monetary contributions are particularly valuable since bulk purchasing allows the pantry to stretch each dollar further — turning $1 into four cans of food instead of one.

“If you know of a family that’s hungry, and a lot of people are just too proud to ask, get the information to us, get it to your local church, whatever it may be,” Matthews said.

Post 40, which has 246 active members, including one World War II veteran and 15 Korean War veterans, supports numerous community programs, including Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and Little League baseball. The post recently acquired the former Habitat for Humanity Restore location on North Broad Street in Edenton and is operating it as a thrift shop, with all proceeds supporting veterans’ programs and community initiatives.

A Solemn Tribute

The ceremony featured traditional elements honoring all branches of military service. Post Chaplain Calvin Capehart led the invocation, expressing gratitude for the nation’s freedoms and asking for divine comfort for veterans suffering from physical and mental disabilities.

Members of the post’s honor guard presented memorial wreaths representing each branch of the armed services, as well as wreaths for the Ladies Auxiliary and Edenton Tea Party National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution. A special POW/MIA wreath was also displayed.

“The POW/MIA wreath, along with our flag, has always been presented at all formal gatherings of the American Legion,” Matthews explained. “This is to constantly remind us that we will never stop in our endeavor to seek them all out and to bring them finally home.”

BSA Troop 164 and the John A. Holmes High School JROTC helped during the ceremony. Veteran Rae Ohlert led the audience in several songs during the event.

Historical Perspective

West provided historical context for Veterans Day observance, noting that the holiday has been celebrated since 1938 to mark the end of World War I, when the Armistice Agreement was signed at 11 a.m. on November 11, 1918.

She also shared a lesser-known piece of history: The first person to receive a military pension from the Continental Congress was Margaret Cochran Corbin in 1779, a Revolutionary War hero who took her mortally wounded husband’s place manning a cannon during the Battle of Fort Washington in 1776.

The ceremony concluded with a benediction by Chaplain Capehart, followed by a community meal. Matthews asked all veterans in attendance to stand and be recognized, drawing sustained applause from the crowd gathered to honor those who served.

With the post’s average member age now at 75 years old, Matthews also issued a call for younger veterans to join Post 40’s mission of community service, ensuring the legacy of service continues for generations to come.