Governor McCrory Honors Memorial Day | Eastern North Carolina Now

News Release:

    Raleigh, N.C.     Governor Pat McCrory released the following video message honoring Memorial Day. The governor recorded the video from the Battleship NORTH CAROLINA located in Wilmington.

    "On this Memorial Day, we honor the men and women who paid the ultimate price to defend the rights and freedoms we enjoy every day as Americans," said Governor McCrory. "We will never waiver from honoring our fallen and missing soldiers and supporting our veterans, active duty military members and especially their families. Let us strive to remember their sacrifice each day for we know the price of freedom is not free."

    To view the video, click here or on the image below.

    Governor McCrory Honors Memorial Day

    Transcript:

    Hi, I'm Governor Pat McCrory, right here on the bow of the beautiful Battleship NORTH CAROLINA overlooking the harbor of one of the most beautiful cities in the United States of America, Wilmington, North Carolina.

    You know as governor of the ninth largest state in the United States of America, there are many responsibilities and parts of this job that I respect and enjoy.

    However, there is one obligation I take very seriously but hope to never do again, and that's speaking to and addressing the families of fallen soldiers.

    As our state has one of the largest military and veteran populations in the country, many of you and your families know personally the sacrifice that accompanies military service.

    On this Memorial Day, we honor the men and women who paid the ultimate price to defend the rights and freedoms we enjoy every day as Americans.

    Heroes from the greatest generation, like those that served right here on the Battleship NORTH CAROLINA.

    And also heroes like U.S. Army Master Sergeant Joshua Wheeler.

    A native of Oklahoma, the elite Delta Force member claimed our state and Fort Bragg his home-away-from-home since 2004.

    Last year, Sergeant Wheeler and 30 of his Special Forces colleagues were on a mission advising Kurdish Special Operations forces fighting against ISIS.

    But when the Kurdish forces were pinned down by ISIS fighters and the mission was on the verge of failure, Sergeant Wheeler and his men ran toward the gunfire.

    They turned the tide of the battle, killing 20 ISIS fighters and rescuing 70 hostages who were scheduled to be executed that morning.

    But during the firefight, Sergeant Wheeler was shot.

    And at the age 39, the husband and father of four became the first American combat death of Operation Inherent Resolve.

    Now people who knew Joshua Wheeler will tell you that he died the way he lived, protecting others.

    And during his 14 deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, his heroism was undeniable.

    Joshua Wheeler is the best of North Carolina and our nation, and it's heroes like him that we remember every day.

    And we remember all fallen soldiers this Memorial Day.

    So I hope you will join First Lady Ann and me in also paying tribute to those who remain missing in action and those currently serving our nation.

    We will never waiver from honoring our fallen and missing soldiers and supporting our veterans, active duty military members and especially their families.

    Let us strive to remember their sacrifice each day for we know the price of freedom is not free.

    May God comfort the families of fallen soldiers, our military members and veterans. And may God continue to bless the great state of North Carolina.