Written by DG Martin
Last week's news was a surprise to me:
“Governor. Cooper's office announced Thursday that Walter Gaskin, a retired three-star Marine Corps general who took over as Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Military and Veterans Affairs in 2021, is retiring from state government.
“Effective Monday (April 1), he will be replaced by Greer Martin, who currently serves as the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Reserves. A former military member, Martin served as a Wake County Democrat in 2005. After serving two terms in the state House of Representatives, he resigned in 2022 to serve in Washington.
Greer's new service reminded him of an important commitment he made more than 20 years ago while preparing to travel to Afghanistan.
As I wrote at the time, he “gathered his military gear and packed his duffel bags before visiting a hospital in Raleigh to see his first child, newborn daughter Sarah Louise Martin, for the last time.” was.
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“The next morning, around 2 a.m., I picked him up at his home in Raleigh, helped him carry his heavy luggage to my car, and ran upstairs to say goodbye to his wife. , and then began the drive to Fort Raleigh.
We're proud of the beginning of our long journey to the other side of the world.
“We were driving quietly, the rain closing in around us, and neither of us really knew what to say. A little over 30 years ago, I… I remembered him when he was as big as baby Sarah, and I was as happy for him as I was for her. He was also a proud grandfather.
“It was still raining as I approached Fayetteville, and I veered off I-95 and onto Bragg Boulevard, passing the house where I lived as a young Army officer, passing shopping centers, pawn shops, and nightlife spots. Mobile home sites, car dealerships, and other strong traces of the military town.
“While it was still raining heavily, we passed through security and arrived at the base, where my son saluted back at the guards and headed to the formation point where my son and his traveling companions would gather. It was a signal that they would soon arrive.''Early this morning, they will begin their journey to Afghanistan for what is expected to be a six-month mission.
“How life brings us together, makes us a family, and then always somehow conspires to tear us apart someday, sometimes for a little while, but ultimately forever.
“What do you call these things that separate us from our loved ones?
Accident, fortune, tragedy, duty? Or is it simply God's invisible plan for us being carried out?
“My son ended up in formation with his colleagues. I took his last photo and then watched the group board a bus to take a flight to Afghanistan.
“As I thought about my own feelings, I thought about how worried Greer's wife, mother, and sister would be until he came home again. As we say goodbye, I feel for them and for my father. I also waved for them.”
Today I wave again, knowing he is about to enter a different kind of dangerous territory, but I am as filled with pride as I was then.
Introducing DG, see the latest books
DG Martin Introduces North Carolina's Roadside Eatery with Flyleaf Books
Thursday, April 4th, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
752 MLK Jr Blvd, Chapel Hill
The perfect glove box book for hungry North Carolina travelers.
DG Martin is back with a completely updated edition of his beloved guide, North Carolina's Roadside Eatery. Tar Heels and visitors alike are ready to help locals find places to eat. DG is your personal tour guide, taking you to his 120+ famous roadside hangouts, including 30+ new restaurants. These are not only great places to eat, but also staples in the community.
A trusted book for thousands of North Carolinians, this book not only provides new and exciting ways to eat delicious meals, but also helps people learn about and understand the Tar Heel State's rich local history. It is also helpful.
The book features local ingredients and community favorites, and covers a wide range of flavors from barbecue and traditional Southern cuisine to Mexican and Laotian cuisine. We'll introduce you to the restaurant owners and locals who make these places unique, and include current contact information, hours of operation, and directions. We will also recommend nearby attractions to explore after your meal.
DG Martin was the host of North Carolina PBS's long-running program Bookwatch, the state's premier literary series. A graduate of Davidson College and Yale Law School and a former Green Beret, Martin practiced law in Charlotte for 20 years before joining the University of North Carolina, where he served as vice president for public affairs and chief legislative liaison. After his retirement from UNC, he served in interim leadership positions at Pembroke, North Carolina Central University, the Public Land Trust, the Triangle Land Conservancy, the North Carolina Clean Water Management Trust Fund, and also served as chairman of his junior William R. Kenan. I am serving. Fund.