By ELENA MARSH
Staff Writer
On a warm spring day, family and friends gathered at Frye Chapel in Vass for a birthday, a memorial and a homecoming more than 80 years in the making — all in celebration of Pearl Harbor sailor Neil Daniel Frye.
On the morning of Dec. 7, 1941, Frye was among 2,000 Navy sailors who lost their lives in the surprise attack by Japanese forces.
Frye’s remains were thought to be lost to time, along with 106 other service members aboard the USS West Virginia, which sank in the harbor. For more than 80 years, his remains were entombed with others who remained unidentified. That is, until Sept. 27, 2024, when Frye’s remains were officially accounted for by the Department of Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency.
Frye’s family, however removed from him they became through the years, never gave up hope of being with him in some way again. On Thursday, that came to be.
Frye’s family and friends gathered together for a memorial service in Vass to celebrate him, his homecoming and his 104th birthday. Over 100 community members from across the county and state came to pay their respects to Frye and honor him for his service to the U.S. Navy.
His trailblazing career as a Black man in uniform during a segregated time in American history emotionally moved those in attendance. From current service members to veterans of Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan, Frye’s family were proud to acknowledge their ancestor and the path he laid for them and their service in the military.
Special recognitions included a plaque and honor mission from the North Carolina Patriot Guard Riders, an organization whose members attend the funerals of U.S. military personnel and first responders via motorcycle. Similarly, Frye and his family were honored by the Fayetteville chapter of the Buffalo Soldiers, a Black motorcycle club named for the historic African-American United States Army regiments.
Frye, whose remains were buried later Thursday with full military honors at Sandhills State Veterans Cemetery in Spring Lake, was honored by Vass Mayor Alphonso Mosley, who presented a proclamation honoring Frye and the mark he left on the community. Mosley also announced that Frye would be receiving a brick in the town’s memorial garden.
Representatives from the community of West Southern Pines and Taylortown were also in attendance to commemorate the sailor’s return.
Contact Elena Marsh at (910) 693-2484 or elena@thepilot.com.
