LOCALPHOTOS: Memorial Day ceremony in WilmingtonLeslie Butler sits by her son's head stone in the Wimington National Cemetery Monday. Her son, Thomas J. Butler IV. was killed on October 1, 2012 in Khost, Afghanistan. The New Hanover County Veterans Council held a low-key ceremony at the Wilmington National Cemetery Monday to honor those local veterans who have made the ultimate sacrifice. This year's ceremony was smaller than usual due to the COVID-19 pandemic. May 25, 2020. [Ken Oots/FOR STARNEWS]Wilmington StarNewsThe New Hanover County Veterans Council held a low-key ceremony at the Wilmington National Cemetery Monday to honor those local veterans who have made the ultimate sacrifice. This year's ceremony was smaller than usual due to the COVID-19 pandemic. May 25, 2020. [Ken Oots/FOR STARNEWS]Wilmington StarNewsThe New Hanover County Veterans Council held a low-key ceremony at the Wilmington National Cemetery Monday to honor those local veterans who have made the ultimate sacrifice. This year's ceremony was smaller than usual due to the COVID-19 pandemic. May 25, 2020. [Ken Oots/FOR STARNEWS]Wilmington StarNewsThe New Hanover County Veterans Council held a low-key ceremony at the Wilmington National Cemetery Monday to honor those local veterans who have made the ultimate sacrifice. This year's ceremony was smaller than usual due to the COVID-19 pandemic. May 25, 2020. [Ken Oots/FOR STARNEWS]Wilmington StarNewsThe New Hanover County Veterans Council held a low-key ceremony at the Wilmington National Cemetery Monday to honor those local veterans who have made the ultimate sacrifice. This year's ceremony was smaller than usual due to the COVID-19 pandemic. May 25, 2020. [Ken Oots/FOR STARNEWS]Wilmington StarNewsThe New Hanover County Veterans Council held a low-key ceremony at the Wilmington National Cemetery Monday to honor those local veterans who have made the ultimate sacrifice. This year's ceremony was smaller than usual due to the COVID-19 pandemic. May 25, 2020. [Ken Oots/FOR STARNEWS]Wilmington StarNewsThe New Hanover County Veterans Council held a low-key ceremony at the Wilmington National Cemetery Monday to honor those local veterans who have made the ultimate sacrifice. This year's ceremony was smaller than usual due to the COVID-19 pandemic. May 25, 2020. [Ken Oots/FOR STARNEWS]Wilmington StarNewsThe New Hanover County Veterans Council held a low-key ceremony at the Wilmington National Cemetery Monday to honor those local veterans who have made the ultimate sacrifice. This year's ceremony was smaller than usual due to the COVID-19 pandemic. May 25, 2020. [Ken Oots/FOR STARNEWS]Wilmington StarNewsThe New Hanover County Veterans Council held a low-key ceremony at the Wilmington National Cemetery Monday to honor those local veterans who have made the ultimate sacrifice. This year's ceremony was smaller than usual due to the COVID-19 pandemic. May 25, 2020. [Ken Oots/FOR STARNEWS]Wilmington StarNewsThe New Hanover County Veterans Council held a low-key ceremony at the Wilmington National Cemetery Monday to honor those local veterans who have made the ultimate sacrifice. This year's ceremony was smaller than usual due to the COVID-19 pandemic. May 25, 2020. [Ken Oots/FOR STARNEWS]Wilmington StarNewsThe New Hanover County Veterans Council held a low-key ceremony at the Wilmington National Cemetery Monday to honor those local veterans who have made the ultimate sacrifice. This year's ceremony was smaller than usual due to the COVID-19 pandemic. May 25, 2020. [Ken Oots/FOR STARNEWS]Wilmington StarNewsThomas J. Butler IV. of Wilmington, assigned to 514th Military Police Company, 60th Troop Command, died Oct.1, in Khost, Afghanistan, of injuries caused by a suicide bomber. Butler was 25 years old. Also killed were Army Sgt. Jeremy F. Hardison, 23, of Maysville, N.C., and Army Sgt. Donna R. Johnson, 29, of Raeford. Every Memorial Day Butler's mother places a rose for her son Thomas, Hardison and Johnson at her son's head stone in Wilmington. May 25, 2020. [Ken Oots/FOR STARNEWS]Wilmington StarNewsL-R Colin, Miles and Marcus Tooker attended the Memorial Day event at the Wilmington national Cemetery Monday. The New Hanover County Veterans Council held a low-key ceremony at the Wilmington National Cemetery Monday to honor those local veterans who have made the ultimate sacrifice. This year's ceremony was smaller than usual due to the COVID-19 pandemic. May 25, 2020. [Ken Oots/FOR STARNEWS]Wilmington StarNewsThe New Hanover County Veterans Council held a low-key ceremony at the Wilmington National Cemetery Monday to honor those local veterans who have made the ultimate sacrifice. This year's ceremony was smaller than usual due to the COVID-19 pandemic. May 25, 2020. [Ken Oots/FOR STARNEWS]Wilmington StarNewsThe New Hanover County Veterans Council held a low-key ceremony at the Wilmington National Cemetery Monday to honor those local veterans who have made the ultimate sacrifice. This year's ceremony was smaller than usual due to the COVID-19 pandemic. May 25, 2020. [Ken Oots/FOR STARNEWS]Wilmington StarNewsThe New Hanover County Veterans Council held a low-key ceremony at the Wilmington National Cemetery Monday to honor those local veterans who have made the ultimate sacrifice. This year's ceremony was smaller than usual due to the COVID-19 pandemic. May 25, 2020. [Ken Oots/FOR STARNEWS]Wilmington StarNewsFormer Wilmington Mayor Don Betz opened the Memorial Day Event at the Wilmington National Cemetery Monday. The New Hanover County Veterans Council held a low-key ceremony at the Wilmington National Cemetery Monday to honor those local veterans who have made the ultimate sacrifice. This year's ceremony was smaller than usual due to the COVID-19 pandemic. May 25, 2020. [Ken Oots/FOR STARNEWS]Wilmington StarNewsThe New Hanover County Veterans Council held a low-key ceremony at the Wilmington National Cemetery Monday to honor those local veterans who have made the ultimate sacrifice. This year's ceremony was smaller than usual due to the COVID-19 pandemic. May 25, 2020. [Ken Oots/FOR STARNEWS]Wilmington StarNewsThe New Hanover County Veterans Council held a low-key ceremony at the Wilmington National Cemetery Monday to honor those local veterans who have made the ultimate sacrifice. This year's ceremony was smaller than usual due to the COVID-19 pandemic. May 25, 2020. [Ken Oots/FOR STARNEWS]Wilmington StarNewsThe New Hanover County Veterans Council held a low-key ceremony at the Wilmington National Cemetery Monday to honor those local veterans who have made the ultimate sacrifice. This year's ceremony was smaller than usual due to the COVID-19 pandemic. May 25, 2020. [Ken Oots/FOR STARNEWS]Wilmington StarNewsThe New Hanover County Veterans Council held a low-key ceremony at the Wilmington National Cemetery Monday to honor those local veterans who have made the ultimate sacrifice. This year's ceremony was smaller than usual due to the COVID-19 pandemic. May 25, 2020. [Ken Oots/FOR STARNEWS]Wilmington StarNewsThe New Hanover County Veterans Council held a low-key ceremony at the Wilmington National Cemetery Monday to honor those local veterans who have made the ultimate sacrifice. This year's ceremony was smaller than usual due to the COVID-19 pandemic. May 25, 2020. [Ken Oots/FOR STARNEWS]Wilmington StarNewsThe New Hanover County Veterans Council held a low-key ceremony at the Wilmington National Cemetery Monday to honor those local veterans who have made the ultimate sacrifice. This year's ceremony was smaller than usual due to the COVID-19 pandemic. May 25, 2020. [Ken Oots/FOR STARNEWS]Wilmington StarNewsCurt fFrrison Soeaks Monday at the Wilmington national Cemetery. The New Hanover County Veterans Council held a low-key ceremony at the Wilmington National Cemetery Monday to honor those local veterans who have made the ultimate sacrifice. This year's ceremony was smaller than usual due to the COVID-19 pandemic. May 25, 2020. [Ken Oots/FOR STARNEWS]Wilmington StarNews