Over 250 people gathered on the corner of Main Street and Spring Avenue in Spring Lake Friday to honor veterans, past and present, at the Veterans Day and Mural Dedication ceremony.
Elected officials, committee members, town staff and residents sat under a large white tent and spilled out into the blocked-off street to share in the Veterans Day event, among the largest that the town has seen in over a decade.
The ceremony was a collaboration between the town of Spring Lake and two committees: the Military and Veterans Affairs Advisory Committee and the Spring Lake Appearance and Sustainability Committee.
State Sen. Tom McInnis (R-Dist. 21) said the ceremony demonstrated that Spring Lake was moving beyond recent scandals that have rocked the town government.
“This is a part of the grander scheme of things to come for the little town of Spring Lake,” McInnis said. “The aldermen and the mayor inherited a bad situation and rather than let it stay bad, they have made major moves and projects. They have taken the high road. I am honored to be here today to participate in this great exercise of democracy.”
Before the ceremony, First Presbyterian Church in Spring Lake and its pastor, Mike Baker, hosted a breakfast reception with food catered by Elite Catering. Retired U.S. Army General Daniel B. Allyn, who was the special guest speaker at the event, sat at one of the tables in the fellowship hall with his wife and several members of the Roberts family who attend the church. Though the couple now lives in Holden Beach, Allyn’s wife Debbie Wingrove Allyn grew up in Spring Lake and still has the family home in Spring Lake that she was living in before they were married in 1987.
After a short walk to the mural, the ceremony featured a posting of the colors hosted by the Harnett County Composite Squadron Color Guard, an invocation by Pastor Kyle Chavis from United Pentecostal and the Cumberland County Choral Arts, who sang the national anthem.
Special recognition was given to retired U.S. Marines Gunnery Sergeant George Edmond Reed and Sgt. 1st Class Shane Burroughs before Allyn gave his formal remarks.
Alderman Marvin Lackman, who is also a U.S. Army retired master sergeant, thanked Spring Lake Memorial VFW Post 4542, Robert R. Miller VFW Post 9103, James LeBlanc American Legion Post 230 and the Nam Knights for their participation as well.
“Here in Spring Lake, we want to thank and honor our veterans every day, not just on Veterans Day,” Lackman said as he presented gifts of appreciation to retired U.S. Marines Gunnery Sergeant George Edmond Reed, who served in the Marines for 24 years, including two tours during the Vietnam War.
Another local resident honored was Sgt. 1st Class Shane Burroughs, who was named United States Army Recruiting Command 2023 Recruiter of the Year. Burroughs moved to Spring Lake when he was nine and graduated from Pine Forest High School.
Appearance Committee member Dr. David Dickerhoff thanked Burroughs, he also said others would consider staying in Spring Lake and making it a home for their families as he and Burroughs did.
“We also hope as you look at this mural that you know that our heart is with you as you defend freedom for us, around the world, at an 18-hour notice, anytime and anyplace,” Dickerhoff said.
As Allyn took the podium, he recognized his wife’s ties to the area while also sharing that he was proud to have been asked to speak in Spring Lake for Veteran’s Day.
“This is an important national holiday,” Allyn said. “I believe it was President George Washington who captured the essence of why honoring our veterans was so vital to sustaining our democracy when he said that our young people are more likely to serve based on how they perceive veterans being treated and appreciated by their country.”
“Remembering the service and sacrifice of our veterans and their families should be one of the core responsibilities of our nation,” he continued. “It is important to pause and say thanks.”
Allyn retired as the 35th Vice Chief of Staff of the Army in 2017. A graduate of West Point, he also served as the Commander of the U.S. Army Forces Command and as the Commanding General of the 18th Airborne Corps with a fully decorated career with awards and many deployments.
He regarded Spring Lake as sharing in the long history of “the military center of gravity” at Fort Liberty.
“We are joined by 18 million veterans across the country, which is about 7% of the nation’s adult population,” Allyn said. “We must remind our fellow Americans about why service to our nation matters, and why we must never forget those past, present and future who raise their right hands and commit their lives and livelihood to the service our country.”
The event also featured the unveiling of a mural designed by Max Dowdle, which recognizes the 18th Airborne Corps and the Special Operations Command as well as Fort Liberty, “the Home of the Airborne.” The mural showcases a large American flag as a backdrop, with soldiers marching forward and paratroopers parachuting from a plane.
Mayor Kia Anthony, also a combat veteran, led the ceremony, telling event attendees that the mural represented not just the bravery and sacrifice of U.S. service members, but also the spirit and resilience of the town of Spring Lake.
“As we unveil this beautiful artwork, let’s remember that each stroke of the brush tells a story of heroism, of battles fought and won, of lives dedicated to the service of our country,” Anthony said. “It’s a story of unity, resilience and the enduring spirit of American patriotism.”
Anthony was visibly moved as she said the talent behind this mural will inspire generations to come.
Mural artist Dowdle was recently awarded a grant to paint murals in all 100 counties in North Carolina.
“This mural is a powerful symbol of American patriotism and support for the military,” Dowdle said in his mural proposal, which he started painting in October.
Over 30 volunteers helped Dowdle with the mural, including a young Army couple and a few families with children, he said.
Bob Pinson, director of the Arts Council of Fayetteville and Cumberland County, and his staff were present as the project was supported through a municipal arts allocation by Cumberland County, the City of Fayetteville and the Arts Council.
According to Cynthia Wilt, the vice chairwoman of the Appearance Committee who led the charge for the mural, the two-year project cost $12,600. The Arts Council of Fayetteville-Cumberland County has contributed $4,000 to the mural, and the committee raised the rest of the money through private donations.
Other officials who attended Friday included Spring Lake Mayor Pro Tem Robyn Chadwick, Alderwoman Adrian Thompson, Alderwoman Sona Cooper, County Commissioner Glenn Adams and Spring Lake Interim Town Manager Jason Williams.
