Thursday, November 12, 2026
®
The World's Local News Source®
Lincolnton, NC (WNN) - November 11th is known throughout the United States as Veterans Day. This holiday celebrates those in service who came home, which distinguishes it from Memorial Day, which honors those who were lost. While almost every city and town in America does something to celebrate, we took a look at Lincolnton's parade and ceremony.
The parade headed from Flint Street to Main Street, with supporters lining the roadside. Many veteran organizations, including Lincolnton's American Legion, Mission 22, Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion Riders, the American Legion Auxiliary, and the Sons of the American Legion, marched in the parade. This was alongside local ROTC students, the East Lincoln Marching Band, and many local Boy Scout Troops as they headed toward the Lincolnton Courthouse, where the ceremony was to be held.
After opening remarks, Chaplain Ken Heavner led the crowd that had gathered in prayer. One of the biggest announcements was the unification of all of Lincoln County's veteran programs into a new initiative: The Lincoln County Veterans Relief Program. They seek to address the underlying issues veterans face by going beyond temporary assistance. The program has yet to launch, and they hope to provide more information in the coming months. After this announcement, the keynote speaker was brought to the stage.
John Davis opened with a joke about his own experience aboard a submarine.
" It takes a special kind of crazy to go to sea on something that's designed to sink and built by the lowest bidder. And no, we do not serve as suitable nightlights."
- John Davis, Keynote Speaker
He considers Veterans Day the most important day of the year and goes on to recognize that freedom is neither automatic nor self-sustaining. That it takes the dedication of the nearly 50 million men and women who have served to protect this foundational aspect of the United States. He noted that it is not only those who serve themselves but also their families back home who serve selflessly. He encouraged everyone to take the time to listen to the stories of the veterans around them, as each served in different ways. Davis, after finishing his speech, was called back to be awarded the title of Veteran of the Year for his dedicated and continued service to his brothers in arms and the community. His presence has motivated those around him and helped programs be reactivated, and new life be brought to Post 30. To Davis, Veterans Day is a moment to step back and thank all veterans for their service. He hopes that everyone will pause to recognize the sacrifice of those who enlisted and that he will inspire the next generation to serve.
Davis grew up in Michigan during a time of economic hardship. College wasn't a good fit for him, and he and his two brothers enlisted in the 1980s, with Davis enlisting in 1983. Davis described his family as patriotic, with both of his grandfathers serving in WWII. Coming from this background inspired him and his brothers to contribute to the total service his family provided. Among him and his brothers, there are a combined 69 years of service to our country.
While Davis can't speak to everything he did during his career, one of his proudest moments was qualifying for submarines. This is considered a rite of passage and allowed him to serve beside his brothers on the same submarine. Doing so is an acknowledgment of knowing every position and system on the submarine and being able to fight in someone else's place should the need occur. Davis remembers having his younger brother help him towards this monumental moment. When asked who he served with that he would like to recognize, Davis cracked a huge smile. "Oh my gosh, both my brothers," who is, thankful for the rare opportunity to have served beside them, even though it was at different times. While he can't quite put it into words, he thinks the sibling rivalry pushed all three of them to succeed.
When asked what his service changed about his perspective on life, he noted how it helped him grow up. He feels it gave him a global perspective and helped teach him humility. As such, his advice for those considering enlistment is to do so. He believes it is a step that will help set you up for life, without the debt of a college-focused career path.
Several groups dedicated to serving veterans were present. One such group is Mission 22. Their goal is to see the number of daily veteran suicides drop to zero. As such, they offer counseling, aid, and community to veterans across the United States. This group can be found throughout the year organizing local events such as Salute the Brave and the Mission 22 Walk and Roll. Another group present that also hopes to aid veterans was the Lincoln County Veterans Services Office. You can reach out and get involved with these below:
This Veterans Day, local singer-songwriter Bailey Marie Griggs released her new song, "The Battle Begins," which shines a light on the challenges veterans continue to face long after their military service ends.
Centered around the saying, "When the war is over, the battle begins," the song recognizes that returning home does not always mean the end of a veteran's struggles. Many veterans face challenges that others may not see, including the transition to civilian life and ongoing mental health struggles.
Through The Battle Begins, Griggs hopes to bring awareness to these ongoing struggles and remind listeners that supporting veterans means recognizing and understanding the challenges they face beyond their time in uniform. You can listen to this on Spotify here.
News Tip? Contact WNN at newsdesk@wisenewsnetwork.com
Subscribe to our FREE newsletter for news updates here: https://www.wisenewsnetwork.com/subscribe/index.html
For further WNN news articles, visit https://wisenewsnetwork.com
For more WNN news videos, visit YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@wisenewsnetwork
North Carolina Press Association Member
©️Copyright 2026 Wise News Network. All rights reserved.
