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Cherryville, NC (WNN) - On November 11th, 2025, local veterans and their families had a full day, hosting a Veterans Day parade, the dedication of a mural to American Legion Post 100, and a reception for friends and family later that evening.
In downtown Main Street, Cherryville, hours before the mural dedication, veterans walked the street at 11:00 AM. They started at City Hall and finished at the Gazebo Mini Park.
Some of the veterans who walked were members of Cherryville American Legion Post 100; however, any and all veterans were welcome to walk. A police truck led the parade, followed by the veterans. As they walked the streets, members of the community saluted and thanked them for their service. Veterans were also given the option to ride in a golf cart to participate, which some chose to do.
After they arrived at the Gazebo Mini Park, the veterans took a group photo near some of the hometown heroes' banners around the park.
The mural was dedicated to honor the Cherryville Post 100, as well as the veterans and their families. The building had four exterior pillars, making it the perfect candidate to showcase the four pillars of the American Legion. When looking for a designer, Erica Anne De Flamond was chosen, and with guidance from Vickie Spurling, Patrick O'Leary, and Post 100, one hundred words were picked to represent the values of the four pillars. Each of the mural's four panels contains twenty-five words, totaling one hundred, representing the American Legion Post 100.
Speaker Reggie Walker briefly went over these ideals, saying, "It really is what the American Legion has stood for since the beginning: taking care of our veterans, supporting a strong nation, promoting patriotism, and lastly, investing in focusing and fostering these same values in our youth." You can read more about these pillars and the mural itself in our article here.
Ned Yates, the Post 100 Commissioner, opened the ceremony by calling forth Cherryville Mayor H.L. Beam. Mayor Beam spoke highly of Cherryville's veterans, rightly attributing American freedom to their efforts. He then turned the podium over to Reverend Tom Hartis, who serves as the chaplain of Legion Post 100, for an opening prayer.
The dedication was attended by several elected officials, including Cherryville City Council members, Congressman Tim Moore, Representative Kelly Hastings, and County Commissioner Cathy Cloninger. The flagbearers were from Cherryville's own Scout Troop 323, with Scoutmaster Roger Davis and Scout Landon Fraley there to perform the duty. Additionally, many community and family members attended to show their support for Cherryville veterans.
The project was developed in coordination with Cherryville Post 100, the Cherryville City Council, and Cherryville Main Street LLC. The founder, Patrick O'Leary, spoke at the dedication. Coming to America from Ireland in 1982, O'Leary has developed a strong sense of patriotism. He noted, "We are not mindful enough and thankful enough for the veterans who have facilitated the freedom that we have, and I feel for myself that the American Legion is the voice of our veterans, and we cannot do enough."
O'Leary believes that America is the best place in the world to live. In a cultural fusion, Scottish native and army veteran David Lesenger performed "Amazing Grace" on the bagpipes. This was followed by the Post 100 Memorial Honor Guard, which gave a three-volley salute and performed TAPS to honor fallen service members on Veterans Day. After a short thank you and conclusion from Yates, attendees made their way to wrap up the day with a reception held at the American Legion Post 100 building.
Head back to the top of this article and click the arrows on the photo to see the complete gallery for the day's events!
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