They gathered to remember. They gathered to support one another in a ceremony meant to enliven memories of those fellow townspeople who have left this plane of reality to a journey we will all take one day. But moreover, for now, they came to say “thank you.”
On May 25, Center School once again was the venue as the community gathered for Memorial Day.
The agenda featured the angelic voices of the Showstoppers who in perfect harmony sang spirited renditions of The Star-Spangled Banner, America the Beautiful, and others.
The speakers included guest Rear ADM (ret) Cashman who invited the attendees to reflect on President Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address. Lincoln drew inspiration for that speech from the ancient Greek statesman Pericles. Pericles believed a democratic society was based in part on the notion that people needed to gather and collectively forge consensus through debate and that they must gather to remember and give praise to those who have gone before because, “time passes quickly” Cashman said we must remember sacrifices made on our behalf and “that the secret to real freedom is to have a brave heart.”
Also speaking was Select Board member Jodi Baur. Baur said unlike festivities that will be taking place around the country as America celebrates its semiquincentennial, Memorial Day is a day of reflection, for “those heroic men and women who served in our armed forces and fought to give us the freedoms we enjoy today.” She went on to say, “The best way we honor the fallen is by living worthy of their sacrifice, by strengthening our communities, treating one another with dignity and protecting the freedoms they died defending.”
Others who spoke briefly were Representative Mark Sylvia, Veteran Ray Hanks who spoke of the renovation work taking place at the Hammond Cemetery, and Chaplin Micheal Frady whose prayers gave solemnity to the ceremony and reverence to the fallen.
By Marilou Newell