Category Archives: Event

The Friends of the 1918 Fort Caswell Rifle Range (FFCRR) and the Brunswick Town Chapter NSDAR announce their joint program for Monday, November 14, 2022, at 11:00am beside the rifle range in Caswell Beach. The public is encouraged to attend.
Note the new date, rescheduled due to tropical storm Nicole.

After a 2 year delay caused by the pandemic, they will resume the Roll Call of the names of the 718 men and women from Brunswick County who served in the Great War. FFCRR president Norma Eckard said, “We are excited to continue the program of honoring the men and women who served by calling their names. We also have a historic program to offer folks.”

Following the Roll Call, the cannon Thor, donated to the Southport Historical Society, will be fired by their crew members.

Brunswick Town Chapter NSDAR member Caron Myers will portray World War I Navy Nurse Susan Adkins Williams, who was raised in Southport.

Caron will also sing “God Bless America.” The words and music were written by Irving Berlin during the Great War but the musical piece was not used until 1938.

Taps will be played by Richard Slease at the end of the program.

FFCRR’s recently published book Brunswick County in the Great War will be available for sale after the program.

Those attending may park in condo parking lots but not on the grass. Please bring a folding chair to sit on.

The next Roll Call is tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, April 6th, 2023, to commemorate the date the US entered World War I in 1917.

On November 11, 2011, at 11:00 am, a group assembled at the Fort Caswell Rifle Range in Caswell Beach, NC, alongside the National WWI Centennial Memorial to honor veterans.

Norma Eckard, president of Friends of Fort Caswell Rifle Range, spoke to those assembled.

Martha Koletar, Regent of Brunswick Town Chapter of NSDAR, read The Story of Taps.

Richard Slease performed “Taps.”

Richard organized his first Taps Across America tribute at the rifle range last year, when the pandemic prevented many commemorations.

Carl Mauney, WWI reenactor who has attended many of the rifle range commemorations, presented WWI gear in his full World War I reproduction woolen uniform. Carl is always a welcome addition to our events.

DAR chaplain Judy Holden offered this prayer.

O God, our help in ages past our hope for years to come. We praise You for Your Presence with us today and with those who serve our country.

We give special thanks for the 718 men and woman who served in World War I from Brunswick County and American heroes who from our beginning as a nation have paid the supreme sacrifice.

Comfort and protect those who struggle from their experiences and be with the men and women in hospitals. May they know they are not forgotten.

Let us remember the sacrifices of their time away from loved ones and their pride in what they were doing for our country.

As we gather today, may we not take our freedoms lightly, including even this right to gather as a group and the privilege to pray together.

Go with us, Lord, in our separate ways, give us grateful hearts for our wonderful heritage. Help us to realize our responsibilities to keep the fires of patriotism glowing brightly.

Lord God
Be with us yet
Lest we forget
Amen

Thanks to Teresa McLamb for some of the photos posted above.

You can see more photos of the event in the November 17th issue of the State Port Pilot, shown here.

Download the flyer here: Taps Across America 2021

Read about last year’s event.

Last month, Dick Slease (in photo, on the right), president of Brunswick Bands, Inc., contacted Friends of Fort Caswell Rifle Range with a request. Dick wanted to organize a Taps Across America tribute at the rifle range on Veterans Day.

This was a continuation of the effort that began in May for Memorial Day. Because the pandemic caused the cancellation of commemorations, musicians were encouraged to play Taps wherever they stood at 3pm on Memorial Day. Across America, tens of thousands of soloists played Taps on porches, parking lots – wherever they were. According to CBS News (story link below), it was one of the largest musical performances of all time.

For Veterans Day, the musicians were urged to choose a World War I memorial. The Fort Caswell Rifle Range was the site chosen by local musician Dick Slease, Ben Edwards, the Director of Music and teacher at South Brunswick Middle School, and Alex Gilland, a student at South Brunswick High School

Before playing Taps, Dick made the following remarks:

Good morning and thank you for coming.

I’m Dick Slease, President of Brunswick Bands Inc., and joining me on this very special day is Ben Edwards, the Director of Music and teacher at South Brunswick Middle School and Alex Gilland who is a student at South Brunswick High School.

We are taking part in a nationwide event to honor those who served in all the armed forces which were necessary to the creation and defense of our country. This event is sponsored by Bugles Across America, an offshoot of Taps Across America, a nationwide conglomeration of brass instrumentalists who play Taps on their front porch at noon on Memorial Day in commemoration of those individuals whose lives were taken in the course of the defense of our country against enemies who only wanted to see our downfall.

Veterans Day, today, is the day that we honor all who served and successfully defended our nation.  The Great War was declared ended when an armistice was signed in Northern France at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918. That event gave birth to “Armistice Day” on Nov. 11, 1919, the first anniversary of the end of World War I. Congress approved the burial of an unidentified American soldier from World War I in the plaza of Arlington National Cemetery’s new Memorial Amphitheater in March of 1921.

We are gathered here at the Ft. Caswell Rifle Pit to honor all veterans, but specifically the World War I veterans who served from Brunswick County, North Carolina.

Ladies and gentlemen, will you please stand proudly while Taps is sounded.

You can now view the video here:

You can read and hear more about the Memorial Day Taps Across America here. In that story, Jari Villanueva was interviewed about his group, Taps for Veterans, which also sponsored the event. Mr. Villanueva’s website was used as the source for a photo of the trench bugle (pictured here) for our WWI Profile for William Ralph Smith. A donation was made to his website at that time.

At left, Norma Eckard, president of Friends of Fort Caswell Rifle Range, lays the wreath at the rifle range. The wreath was made by her friend in West Virginia, Barbara Conway. Thank you, Barbara!

Thank you to Richard Stone for the photo of the musicians.

The final Roll Call was planned to be held at the Fort Caswell Rifle Range today, completing two years of reciting the names of the 718 known Brunswick County WWI veterans.

The names of 14 Fort Caswell nurses were to be included.

Like many activities, the Roll Call will have to wait for safer times.

Stay tuned for photos and a touching tribute to veterans planned for today.

Read about previous Veteran Day commemorations:
2018 Veterans Day WWI Centennial Commemoration and Dedication
Veterans Day 2019: Continuing to Honor Those Who Served.

The second book signing and purchase was held on Saturday, October 31, 2020, at the Caswell Beach Town Hall. A number of supporters visited, including a special surprise by our publisher, Daniel Norris!

Teresa McLamb donated $500 to purchase books for 3 county high schools and 3 county libraries. Teresa is shown here with Norma as she picks up an additional book for Brunswick Community College. Teresa has also submitted a photo of an ancestor in his WWI uniform with his unit in what appears to be France. An entry will be added to our WWI Wall of Honor soon.

Daniel Norris, our publisher from Slapdash Publishing, visited for a long while, entertaining everyone with his stories and sharing his approach to the formatting of the book. Daniel said that he’s proud of his part in the making of the book. According to Daniel, “The stories of each soldier and nurse are wonderful to read. It will make you want to stand up and pledge allegiance to our great American flag and remember all those who have served to preserve our republic.” Thank you, Daniel! It was a pleasure to work with you!

We continue to hear from readers. We are particularly grateful to hear from those who discover ancestors through our research. One reader reached out to us, saying, “You cannot believe how much this has helped me in my family research.” Feedback like this has made the past nine years of work worthwhile.

We can’t thank everyone enough for sharing your stories and photos!

Weather permitting, there will be another book signing and purchase next Saturday, November 7, 2020,
from noon – 3 pm,
outside at the same location (see map below):
Caswell Beach Town Hall
1100 Caswell Beach Road
Caswell Beach, NC 28465

The plan to hold these events at various locations across Brunswick County has been placed on hold for now.

You may also purchase a book now by using this link, which is also at the top right of the webpage. We should point out that this is not a fundraiser. The price of the books was chosen to cover the publishing and printing costs.

Thank you to the DAR member Jane Freach who assisted, and Daniel Norris for sharing his photos.

Thank you to Caswell Beach Mayor Deborah Ahlers and Town Administrator/Finance Officer Jeff Griffin for allowing us to hold our event at the town hall.

The Friends of Fort Caswell Rifle Range was excited to hold the first book signing and purchase on Saturday, October 24, 2020, at the Caswell Beach Town Hall. We were pleased with the number of books sold and happy to meet new friends.

It is rewarding to hear from those who treasure this tribute to Brunswick County WWI veterans. This journey has been one we too will treasure: the opportunity to learn more about your courageous ancestors.

We were happy to have former military Jack Gowling, Jim Conklin, and Rich Romer be the first in line to purchase a book.

Trudy Young and daughter Marie stopped to visit and purchase books. Trudy’s great uncle John (Johan) Daniel Eriksen was born in Norway and immigrated to Southport when he was 14. He came from a family of 11 and left home to be a cabin boy on a ship. His parents told him he had to return home after two years to go to engineering school. He went back 30 years later to visit his mother. He served in the Great War with the newly formed 56th Engineers (Searchlight). From 1935 to 1949 he was the mayor of Southport. Trudy shared a great deal of information about her great uncle and the Friends appreciate her interesting facts. She lives in the home where her great uncle and his wife spent most of their lives. His profile is on page 300 in the book. You can read his WWI Profile on the website here.

We also met Kirk James, who was responsible for finding de-classified information about the building of the rifle range that may also be found in the book. We thank Kirk who bought and donated two hardback books for Harper and Barbee Public Libraries.

Thank you for sharing your stories and photos and thank you to those of you who continue to serve our country.

Weather permitting, there will be another book signing and purchase next Saturday, October 31, 2020,
from noon – 3 pm,
outside at the same location (see map below):
Caswell Beach Town Hall
1100 Caswell Beach Road
Caswell Beach, NC 28465

We are pursuing the possibility of holding these events at various locations across Brunswick County, and will update the website with details.

You may also purchase a book now by using this link, which is also at the top right of the webpage.

Thank you to the DAR members who assisted: Jane Freach, Mary Sands, and Phyllis Wilson who provided the photos here.

Thank you to Caswell Beach Mayor Deborah Ahlers and Town Administrator/Finance Officer Jeff Griffin for allowing us to hold our event at the town hall.