WILMINGTON — Normally when the Wilmington Veterans Post 49 Honor Guard assembles in full uniform, it’s for a solemn occasion or a parade.
But not on Saturday, Sept. 19 — on this day they were together to have the biannual “class photo” taken and the annual dinner.
Immediately following the pictures, Honor Guard Commander Mike Sutton presented each member with a ball cap emblazoned with their emblem.
Then he called for three of the members to come forward for the “Top 3 Awards”, stating: “The Honor Guard completed 90 assignments between 1 September 2019 and 30 August 2020.” The three members called had participated in a cumulative total of 211 programs over the past 12 months.
Charlie Lakatos attended 72 functions, Jim Cook 70 and Wayne Davidson 69. Each man received a plaque and a resounding round of applause.
Commander Sutton went on to challenge every member by pointing to recently retired member Randy Moore and his wife Linda, also a very active member of the unit, saying: “You better watch out this year. These two will be very hard to beat.”
For many years McCoy’s Catering has, at no cost, hosted this special group of volunteers’ yearly social gathering. Mike McCoy and his staff have volunteered their services at their banquet room, located at the intersection of Curry and Gurneyville Roads, and has never asked for any compensation.
Reminding those present of all the donated meals and the support McCoy’s Catering provided and continues to provide the Post 49 Honor Guard and Post 49 in general, Sutton presented Amy Doak of McCoy’s with a check for $1,000 as a small token of the American Legion Post 49 Honor Guard’s appreciation.
Post 49 Chaplain Bob Baker offered the blessing, and the members and their spouses enjoyed the excellent meal and fellowship.
