The weather could not have been better on May 26 as the community of Mattapoisett gathered at Center School to remember the living and the dead whose military sacrifices were tenderly recalled.
The hour-long ceremony featured the vocal talents of the Showstoppers whose harmonies while singing much-loved patriotic tunes and favorites such as Amazing Grace filled the space with reverence.
There is something tremendously moving when our youth sing songs we have lived with for decades but possibly hearing the words for the first time. And so, it was when the group sang the Pledge of Allegiance as the audience was asked by master of ceremonies Veterans’ Agent Chris Gerrior to “hear” the words being sung. It was quite moving.
Veteran and Chairman of the town’s Cemetery Memorial Advisory CommitteeRaymond Hanks was invited to the podium to tell the assembled about work taking place at the Old Hammondtown Cemetery on River Road. Restoration plans and back-breaking labor has gone into clearing and cleaning this nearly forgotten parcel of the town’s long history.
Hanks thanked the volunteer efforts that included local Scouts and a grant from the town’s Community Preservation fund to professionally care for the graves of Revolutionary soldiers.
Hanks also reflected on the Vietnam War saying, ”I like to call this Remembrance Day.” He said we honor soldiers from the Revolutionary War through present day wars and that our military suffer from wounds seen and unseen. But the most striking comment was Hanks reminding all that those who have made the ultimate sacrifice not be forgotten. Hanks said when we speak their names, in that moment they are present.
“We were sent to an unpopular war. When returning, we received little or no recognition for our service…” He then spoke the names of just a small number of soldiers, of fallen heroes, most of whom Hanks had personally known. They were PFC Willam Young, Lance Corporal Robby Hanvey, Sgt. William McTaggart, Cpl. Robert Gonneville, Lance Corp James Ferro, Sgt. Edward Byrne, Pvt. William O’Neill, and Cpl. Robert Sylvia. All whose names were spoken were under thirty years of age. We send the young to face our enemies.
Hanks was instrumental in Mattapoisett’s recognition as a Purple Heart Town. He said that there isn’t a national database listing all who received purple hearts thus inviting the public to bring those people to his attention so they might be honored for their service in an upcoming ceremony. Date to be announced.
After closing the day’s ceremony, the assembled placed floral arrangements and wreaths at war memorials located at the library and another cast unto the harbor.
By Marilou Newell