Celebrating 100 Years of Service
It’s not every day that a man turns 100.
And it’s not every community that has a man like Ira Lewis.
The Core Sound Waterfowl Museum & Heritage Center will partner with community members and local officials to honor Chief Ira Lewis with a parade at 11 am, beginning at the Veterans Memorial at Harkers Island School and ending at the Core Sound Museum with lunch and a 2 pm ceremony.
10:30 am Remembering Those Who Served - US Coast Guard
Laying-of-the-Wreath, Harkers Island Veterans Memorial, HI School
Led by Captain Bion Stewart, Commander NC Sector
11 am Chief Ira Lewis’ 100th Birthday Parade with 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing Band
Leaving Harkers Island School and proceeding to Core Sound Museum
Reviewing Stand at “The Bridge Down East,” emcee Rodney Kemp
12 noon Lunch: Core Sound Waterfowl Museum & Heritage Center
All USCG Veterans and Active USCG Member Complimentary
Tickets for Family & Friends, please reserve by calling 252.728.1500
USCG Displays, Memorial Tables, Videos throughout the Museum All Day
2 pm Chief Ira Lewis Recognition Ceremony – Core Sound Museum
Presentations and Remarks
Keynote Speaker, Vice Admiral Dean Lee, USCG Ret.
3 pm Cutting of the Cake ~ Time to Visit
Important traffic notes: Traffic along Island Road on Harkers Island will be rerouted down Bayview Drive to Sheldon Drive where it will reconnect to Island Road. This detour begins at 10:15 am for both eastbound and westbound traffic. The road to Shell Point will be closed briefly from approx.. 11:30 – 12 noon for the parade to proceed from Sheldon Drive to the museum. Please come early to find your viewing location along Harkers Island Road and allow extra time for moving from place to place from mid-Island to Shell Point. HI road will be accessed via Yeomans, Lewis and Davis until 10:55.
All parade participants, including USCG Veterans, should report to Harkers Island School no later than 9:30. (Doors open at 9.) Refreshments will be served.
REGISTRATION for All Men & Women Serving USCG
As part of the USCG Appreciation Day in Honor of Chief Ira Lewis’ 100th Birthday on August 18, ALL US Coast Guard servicemen and women are invited to be part of this “USCG Reunion” by participating in the day’s activities. The day-long-event will begin with a parade at 11 that will leave the Veterans’ Memorial at Harkers Island School and proceed to the Core Sound Waterfowl Museum & Heritage Center.
To participate in the parade, we need each Veteran registered w/ the Museum. We plan for all USCG Veterans to meet at the HI School at 10 am for name tags and parade assignments. We will also need to know BEFORE the parade who can walk and who will need to ride. We will need contact information ASAP (see below.) If you would like to walk/ride in memory of a family/friend, that is possible too. (Please call Karen @ 252.723.0982 for details.)
Once the entire parade procession has arrived there will be a lunch with all USCG Veterans receiving a complimentary lunch. Families and visitors may reserve their tickets by calling 252.728.1500. (Tickets are $10 for BBQ & Chicken w/ drinks and dessert.) We encourage EVERYONE (both USCG Veterans and families to reserve your tickets asap.)
A formal ceremony to recognize Chief Lewis’ 100 years and the important role the US Coast Guard holds in our history and our community today will be held at 2 pm. Admiral Dean Lee will provide the keynote address with local, state and Congressional representatives in attendance.
This gathering will also feature displays of USCG history and space for pictures (1 per Veteran) to be displayed. (If you have pictures or memorabilia you would like to display, please contact Pam Morris at 252.728.1500
Please fill out the following registration form if you plan to participate in the parade.
Register to Walk in Memory of a Family Member who Served
Make a Contribtion
Contributions to help cover expenses for this US Coast Guard Community Celebration are welcomed. Names of those individuals, families and businesses supporting this event will be listed in the Official Program of the US Coast Guard Appreciation Day and on display at the day’s celebration. Contributions can be made in honor or in memory of someone who has served in the USCG. Contributions will be used to cover costs of meals for USCG Veterans and event support including tent rentals, banners, signage, promotions and displays.
