The amulet Barbara Cleary wears around her neck is more than just a piece of jewelry that once belonged to her late husband.
It is the talisman that brought him home to her — years after Maj. Pete Cleary’s plane went down on his last mission and decades after she heard that her husband of a little more than five years was missing in action.
She fingers the St. Michael medallion with a soft look of memory in her eyes and a smile as she gazes up at the tree that honors her Air Force Reserve husband and all those who did not come home.
She remembers when it was first planted — “it was just a stick,” she says.
Now it towers with large sweeping branches. It is adorned with a ribbon, a black one, and is surrounded by POW/MIA flags to honor the heroes who have been lost and those who now, like Pete, have been found.
She is comforted, she said, by family who share her memories and her love, friends who have been with her for decades and a community, she says, that has never forgotten.
And for a moment, the emotions are mixed as she relives a bit of the grief of the loss and as she reminisces about the comfort and pride she has found in watching their children grow up.
Pete has not been forgotten — not by his wife, family and friends, not by his fellow airmen and not by Goldsboro and Wayne County.
The proof is in those branches.
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On Thursday, a group of those supporters joined the Cleary family and friends as they gathered at the tree that was planted to honor Pete Cleary.
The ceremony is one of the first events of N.C. Freedom Fest — this weekend’s tribute to those who serve, who have served and who have sacrificed. It is yet another chance to say thank you.
The Freedom Tree was one of several hundred that were planted across the county to honor those who did not come home.
It is one of only a few that are still standing strong — weathering storms and the ravages of time.
This weekend, the tree does double duty as a sacred site to honor heroes and comrades in arms — a 24-hour tribute to all POW/MIAs. It is an annual moment to remember for local service members and a chance for the community to share in their recognition.
Names are read one by one as airmen from Seymour Johnson Air Force Base carry the POW/MIA flag in loops around downtown Goldsboro. The event will finish at The Moving Wall, said Tech. Sgt. Christine Intorre, who represented not only her fellow airmen, but the local chapter of the Air Force Sergeants Association.
She introduced the day’s special guest, 4th Mission Support Group Commander Col. Tammy MacElhaney.
The tree, the ceremony, the vigil and the flags are symbolic of a promise, MacElhaney said.
“Our country will do everything it can to bring us home to our families no matter where we fall,” she said.
Former Goldsboro Mayor Tommy Gibson has been part of keeping that promise to never forget for decades.
He was there when that tree was planted nearly 50 years ago and every time its message has been reaffirmed.
Thursday’s ceremony was a rededication of a symbol — a community’s tribute to those who serve from a county that understands and has always understood, Gibson said.
He remembers when the soldiers, airmen, Marines and sailors came home from Vietnam.
His voice broke as told the story of the bracelets community members wore — more than 5,000 — and how they welcomed home those who had served in Vietnam.
The reception was not the same everywhere, Gibson said.
“Goldsboro and Wayne County maintained its love of the military and for this country,” he said.
Gibson’s voice caught because he understood, and still understands, that freedom isn’t free.
“Pete Cleary was a hero,” he said. “Heroes by definition make the world safer for all of us.”
Thursday’s ceremony included the presentation of a portrait of the Freedom Tree, which was drawn by Gibson’s son, Ben.
It was presented to Barbara and her children.
It brought the memories full circle — a new generation remembering the sacrifice.
Pete Cleary wasn’t supposed to be wearing anything but his dog tags when he took that final flight.
But Barbara said he told some of his fellow airmen that he was going to “wear his wedding band” and a special piece of jewelry.
Decades later, Barbara says, it was that medallion, found and turned in by a Vietnamese man, that allowed Cleary’s crash site to be identified.
And that St. Michael medal is what brought him home, Barbara said.
The discovery of Pete’s remains brought some comfort. She later learned he died from a surface to air missile strike.
“I was always worried that his plane had gone down and that he was a prisoner of war,” she said.
The loss was great, but she always had friends and family to support her — as well as her Air Force family.
Barbara smiles when she remembers her young husband.
Pete was special, she says.
She remembers when they were stationed in the Philippines, and he was ready to move to his next duty station in Thailand.
“He came home for a few days in between,” she said.
She remembers walking into the hangar from one end and seeing her husband at the other.
“He was so handsome,” she said.
Minutes later, she was in his arms.
“He wrapped me in a bear hug,” she said. “I have never felt such relief, such support, such love.”
And as she left the hangar with Pete, she looked over.
There was a young airman getting ready to deploy.
“I saw him look back at us with such longing,” Barbara said. “I could see in his eyes how much he wished he was in our place.”
It is just one of the memories she cherishes now.
Barbara says she has family friends, Midge and Chick Linnevers, who have been there for her and her family.
They met as young air force wives in 1967 when Pete and Chick were in pilot training.
“We were just babies raising babies,” Midge and Barbara said.
They kept in touch and visited when they could.
“The funny thing is we never lived together in the same city,” Chick said.
But the friendship endured with phone calls, letters and airline flights.
“The kids grew up thinking of them as their aunt and uncle,” Barbara said.
So, Midge and Chick were there Thursday for their godchildren and their friend — and to honor Pete.
“They are family,” Barbara said. “We have shared incredible moments together.”
The closeness, they said, is not unusual in the Air Force community, especially those who served in combat.
“A war will do that to you,” Midge said.
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As the pictures were taken and the memories and thanks shared, in the background, the first leg of the run to honor the men and women whose POW/MIA flags were shaded by that tree began.
There was a flag bearer and a young man in uniform — one of the pairs donating their time to remember and to honor their comrades in arms.
It was a solemn moment and sacred ground for the men and women who are now serving their country — those who will now carry the banner and who live by the oath to care for the nation and the freedom those heroes fought for.
They know what it means to serve and the debt owed to those who came before.
They are keeping a promise, too, the tech sergeant said, as she read off the first name on that honor list, “Major Pete McArthur Cleary.”
“For the ones still waiting to come home,” Intorre said. “You are never, ever forgotten.”
