On November 11, 2022, at American Legion Florence Eastman Post 280, the Town of Mattapoisett once again invited residents to remember and celebrate military servicemen and women who have given their all, men and women who have sacrificed the comforts of family and home for a cause much greater than themselves – military service.
The day’s program began as it always does with a prayer led by post Chaplain Langhoff, in which he beseeched the Lord to bring peace into the hearts of all and to protect all service personnel across the globe.
Post Commander Rachel Perron, who said she had promised herself she would not tear up during the ceremony, indeed found herself moved to tears as the Showstoppers sang “Bless Our Troops,” written by Teresa Jennings. The hymn-like cadence of prayerful lyrics sung by the voices of youth was the perfect sentiment for the proceedings; likely there were others holding back tears.
Tri-Town Veterans Agent Chris Gerrior welcomed the assembled and presented some facts on the growing needs of the aging veteran populations. He said that 7% of the total population are veterans, that in Mattapoisett, there are 351 veterans or 5% of the town’s population, of which two-thirds are over the age of 60, and that a third of all veterans in town are baby boomers and another third are made up of Generation-X and Millennials.
Of the younger veterans, Gerrior noted that many served longer tours and multiple tours versus older generations who went to war and then returned home and that many more women have served in recent years versus in the past. “They need different support services.”
Gerrior, a naval veteran who served for 24 years, has also been a member of the Rochester Conservation Commission for a number of years. He said he believes many veterans have continued to serve by volunteering at the local level and that younger veterans “should look and see where older veterans have stepped away and fill those openings.” Gerrior said community service is needed.
Added to the thought that veterans can and do continue to serve their country through community-based service, Select Board member Tyler Macallister pointed out that Building Commissioner David Riquinha (Marines) and Building Inspector Stephane Brodo (Navy) are both veterans. He urged the public, “If you see a veteran, thank a veteran.”
Representative William Straus said it was a day to remember those who came home and that we are obligated to take care of those veterans in need as we continue to pray for peace.
Keynote speaker for the ceremony was Professor James Holmes of the Naval War College. He told the story mostly forgotten now of a Korean War battle that took the life of Ensign Jesse LeRoy Brown, the first African American aviator to complete the Navy’s flight-training program.
Brown, along with Fall River’s Tom Hudner, flew into battle as teammates sworn to do their duty and sworn to never leave a fellow officer behind.
During the Battle for Chosin Reservoir in North Korea in December 1950, Brown’s plane was shot down. He was still alive but trapped in the wreckage. Hudner went in to save his friend and fellow officer. It was not to be. Brown would perish and Hudner would go on, achieving the rank of captain and receiving the Medal of Honor for his effort to save Brown.
As Holmes told the story of two men held together by honor and dedication to protect and defend, others in the room were perfectly still and held in that moment so long ago when two young aviators gave all that they had to give that day. “They were ordinary people doing unordinary things,” said Holmes.
As the proceedings ended, the Mattapoisett Police and Mattapoisett Fire Department color guards stood at attention as the New Bedford High School ROTC color guard fell out and retreated the American flag until the next time.
Veterans Day 2022 in Mattapoisett
By Marilou Newell