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Thursday, May 22, 2008
Maritime Day Ceremony
Merchant Marine memorial wreath-laying ceremony features honor guards, drill team, fireboat and more
Maritime Day honors the contributions of the United States Merchant Marine to our country, and remembers those who have given their lives in service. Wilmington's 2008 observance of the occasion was a memorial wreath-laying ceremony on the steps of the Alton Lennon Federal Building on the riverfront in downtown Wilmington. The Ports Authority sponsors this event each year along with the Wilmington Propeller Club. Steve Jackson, general cargo operations manager at the Port and Propeller Club president, served as master of ceremonies, with remarks from Mayor Bill Saffo, County Commissioner Ted Davis, and Ports CEO Tom Eagar. Chaplain Mel Atento of the Port's International Seamen's Center gave the invocation, and the 440th Army Band of the North Carolina National Guard provided buglers to play the Star-Spangled Banner and Taps. The U.S. Coast Guard and Ashley High School's Navy Junior ROTC provided the honor guard. The JROTC drill team performed, and the Coast Guard laid the wreath in the Cape Fear River, accompanied by the Wilmington Fire Department's fireboat and the Port of Wilmington's Port Police patrol boat.
The Wilmington Star-News has posted a video and a photo gallery on the website.
Star-News Multimedia Center
Video (direct link)
Photo gallery (direct link)
The local TV stations covered it nicely, but the video isn't posted on their websites. Here are links to their web coverage.
WECT-TV
WWAY-TV
ABOUT THE NORTH CAROLINA STATE PORTS AUTHORITY:
North Carolina's Ports in Wilmington and Morehead City, plus inland terminals in Charlotte and the Piedmont Triad in Greensboro, link the State's consumers, businesses and industry to world markets, and serve as magnets to attract new business and industry while receiving no direct taxpayer subsidy. Port activities contribute statewide to 65,000 jobs and $500 million each year in state and local tax revenues.
Top trading partners are China, India, Brazil, So. Korea, Belgium, Taiwan, Mexico, Colombia, Great Britain and Venezuela.
Primary exports are phosphate, forest products, woodpulp, general merchandise, food products, wood chips and military.
Top imports are sulfur products, chemicals, grains, rubber, scrap metal, cement, metal products, machinery parts, ore, mica and schist.
INFORMATION:
Shannon Moody, Director of Communications (910) 343-6482 Email
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