BLACK MOUNTAIN, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Veterans, their families and community members gathered at Western Carolina State Veterans Cemetery today for a Memorial Day ceremony. After a long weekend of rain, the ceremony was all sun, shining down on a crowd who beamed right back.
The observance was held at 10 a.m., Monday, May 25 at the Veterans Cemetery, 962 Old U.S. Hwy. 70, Black Mountain.
Taps, tears and togetherness
Several esteemed veterans spoke at the ceremony, which was overseen by master of ceremony Allan Perkal, chair of the Buncombe County Veterans Council and a United States Air Force veteran.
The keynote speaker was Emiliano Enea, who served in the United States Army from 2003-2008 in Iraq, Afghanistan and Korovo. Enea is also a board member of Brothers and Sisters Like These, a veterans writing group healing the pains of war by working with words.
Enea’s address was focused on his experiences living in New York City during 9/11 and losing friends and comrades in the wars which followed. Enea expressed gratitude to his friends and the veteran care providers in the crowd, and acknowledged those who he did not know…