One of the hardest things about getting to be my age is coping with the death of people who are dear to me. Since March 31, 2023, three friends I worked with and valued have left this life and moved into eternity. On March 31, David Mooring passed away. On October 30, Gary Hines went to be with the Lord.

The latest loss came on Tuesday, January 2, 2024, when Eric Cantu went to his reward. David, Gary, Eric, and I had worked together for a dozen years as members of the board of directors of the CSS Neuse Foundation. Eric was a charter member of the board. I was also connected with them individually through various other organizations.

Eric was born in Lenoir County on February 12, 1946. Until I read his obituary, I did not realize he and my son share a birthday. After Eric graduated from Grainger High School, Class of 1964, he enlisted in the U.S. Army. The Vietnam War was ramping up. After basic and advanced training, Eric was deployed to Vietnam to serve with the 228th Aviation Battalion, 1st Cav. Division at An Khe, South Vietnam.

Like many Vietnam veterans, his service in-country laid the foundation for the profound illnesses he suffered later in his life. Through the years we served together on the Neuse Foundation board, I watched his health decline more sharply each year.

My best memories of Eric stem from his determination to celebrate the veterans who have served in our nation’s armed forces. He was a visionary. Salute! and G.I. Joe’s Military Living History Museum are concrete representations of what can happen when a determined person has a vision and can transmit that vision to other like-minded people.

Eric was not one to lead from behind. He was a member of American Legion Post 43, a founding member of AmVets Post 1111, and Commander of Veterans of Foreign Wars 2771 for ten years. He served on the North Carolina VFW Color Guard for six years. He was the President of Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 892 for six years and served on the North Carolina State Council of the Vietnam Veterans of America.

Even as his life was coming to a culmination, Eric was still a visionary. He had advocated for the Neuse Foundation to purchase the building next to the CSS Neuse II for two or three years. His final appeal came in the days just before his passing.

Eric was also heavily involved in organizing our county’s annual Veterans Day observances. He worked with Mary Beth Dawson to produce the SALUTE! Show that celebrated veterans. He even arranged for Adrian Cronauer, the basis for the film “Good Morning, Vietnam,” to appear at the first show.

One November, my brother, a veteran of the U.S. Navy, was visiting with us here in Kinston. He was staying at Mother Earth Motor Lodge. We had arranged to meet for breakfast at Lovick’s on Saturday. His son, serving in the U.S. Air Force, brought his two little girls to meet us.

After breakfast, we returned to the motor lodge and prepared to watch the Veterans Day parade. John, my brother, who lives near Orlando, Fla., was impressed that our little city could put on such an impressive parade. I knew Eric and his team had spent hours preparing everything for the parade that day.

Whenever I look at the photos I took that day, I think of Eric.

Eric’s family has asked that, in lieu of flowers, consider donating to Salute! – GI Joe’s, 1165 Hwy 11 S, Kinston, NC 28504. I cannot think of a more fitting tribute than supporting the military living history museum Eric worked so hard to see become a reality.

Mike Parker is a columnist for the Neuse News. You can reach him at mparker16@gmail.com.