A beautiful Christmas tree was planted in Bicentennial Park last Friday. The tree is perfect for the town, because it was grown from a seedling given out many years ago on Arbor Day in Marion.

The newly planted tree replaces one that was damaged during its planting last month.

“We asked three different experts for their opinion on its survival, and were told its chances were slim to none,” said Margie Baldwin of the Tree Committee.

“The cambium layer, which is the veins of the tree that bring nutrients up to the tree was damaged during installation,” said Susannah Davis, a member of the Tree Committee and a landscape architect. “It’s like clamping off your stomach and you can’t get food for nourishment.”

A local tree company offered to donate a Norway Spruce to the town, but the offer was not taken up. “It was a very generous offer, but it would get too big for the park, and we’d have to deal with the height later,” Davis said.

“I was working the Arbor Day seedling giveaway many years ago, and we had some left over, which I gave to my parents on Converse Road,” said Davis, whose parents, Natalie and Raymond, were well loved. “They planted them, and here she is. I look at it as a legacy from my parents to the town.”

The tree is a concolor fir, a type of white fir.

“I wanted to do something and decided that this tree would be great because it is a slow-growing, salt-tolerant, disease-resistant evergreen with soft needles. If a child ran into it at the tree lighting, it is soft to the touch,” Davis explained.

David Mendell, a local certified arborist, was on hand to help with the removal of the prior tree, along with the Marion DPW.

“Tree moving is tricky business and very stressful,” Mendell said. “The planting went picture perfect, and we didn’t encounter many large roots. I feel optimistic about the tree going forward.”

Mendell is employed by a local tree company and offered his help.

“It’s a sad tale with a happy ending, and the new tree will grow and serve as our Christmas tree for years to come,” Baldwin said. “Stop by and see our new tree.”

By Joan Hartnett-Barry

Two well-organized Memorial Day services and a parade were attended by hundreds of residents and guests on Monday in Marion. The first ceremony was held at the Civil War monument on the grounds of the Marion Music Hall. A second ceremony was held at the Old Landing Park, home to monuments commemorating Marion residents who lost their lives in World War I, World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. Another ceremony was held at Old Landing Cemetery, where wreaths and flowers were placed on the grave of Benjamin D. Cushing, founder of the VFW Post in Marion.

A flag-raising ceremony started things off with a flag that was hoisted to the top of the pole and then lowered to half mast. Doug Thackery in fatigues and Bob Nissen in uniform handled the flag raising at the Marion Music Hall.

The 182 students in the Sippican School Band played the National Anthem, with many people humming or singing along. Mikayla Florio, a former ORR student now attending UMass-Dartmouth, sang “God Bless America.” Ian McClellan read the Gettysburg Address. John Robarge, from the Cushing VFW, read Logan’s Address, which established Memorial Day as a day to remember those who gave their lives for our freedom.

The VFW ritual followed with wreath laying, prayers and thanksgiving for those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for their country. Rodney Hunt read the names of those veterans who passed away during the past year. Those included William Filkins, Edison Love, Peter Monteiro Jr., Malcolm Nason, Peter Rezendes Jr., David Rose, Richard Simcock, and Charles Streeter. A firing squad shot three times, followed by the playing of taps and moments of silence and reflection by the crowd.

Marion Cub and Boy scouts led the Pledge of Allegiance and recited the Boy Scout Creed. Buglers Jack Gomez and Mario Borges played taps during the ceremony on the Marion Music Hall grounds.

The crowd heard several patriotic songs played by the Portuguese American Band, under the direction of Dan Ferreira. The Sippican School Band followed with a version of “Grand Old Flag,” by George M. Cohen, while marching on the way over to the Town Hall.

At the judges’ stand, the Marion Board of Selectmen spoke to the crowd. Chairman Jody Dickerson read a heartfelt message regarding how some members of our society don’t take the time to think about the sacrifices of those in the military and those who lost their lives while fighting for our freedom. Dickerson thanked the crowd for coming out and attending the service.

John Henry spoke and talked briefly about his many years of service in the military and how “gung-ho” he was after basic training. Henry said that his feelings have mellowed over time and stressed how important it is to respect and support military families and those with post-traumatic stress issues.

Parade chair, Rodney Hunt, was the master of ceremonies, and each segment of the ceremony transitioned smoothly. The Girl Scouts and Brownies recited their pledge, and Mikayla Mattson read “Flanders Field.” Raquel MacFarlane played a medley of patriotic songs on her bagpipes, while walking the traditional line across the judging area and back to her original place, next to the Color Guard.

Hunt thanked all of those involved in the parade and ceremony, including the Marion Police Department, Fire and EMS Departments, the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, the Board of Selectmen, members of the VFW and the Ladies Auxiliary, Hanna Moore and the Sippican School Band and the Portuguese American Band. Lastly, Hunt thanked the three Washburn brothers, Bud, Bill, and Bob for their valuable time and service in setting up the public address system for the ceremonies.

“It was awesome to be in the parade,” said Mia Hemphill, a Brownie Scout.

“It was fun to go up on the stage and say our pledge,” Nellie Zygiel said.

“I liked being with my friends and seeing all of the people,” said Charlotte Gordon. The girls gathered under a tree at Old Landing Park with their parents.

Bud Washburn said that the Washburn family has been handling the public address system for the parade for over 55 years. “My dad started doing it when I was in Cub Scouts,” Bud said.

“In the old days, we only had one system, so we had to take it down from Town Hall and then rush to Old Landing to set it up,” said Bob Washburn. “We had a couple of Murphy’s Law moments.

“We finally agreed that we needed two systems,” Bill Washburn said, “and here we are.”

By Joan Hartnett-Barry

The Tri-Town’s schedule of Memorial Day festivities is jam-packed this year, with Mattapoisett and Rochester joining forces to celebrate the life and service of SPC Steven E. Gutowski, a Plymouth resident slain in Afghanistan on Sept. 28, 2011.

Known as “Guto” to his fellow soldiers and “Goot” to friends and family in Plymouth, where he worked for the Recreation Department, Gutowski was awarded the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal and the Combat Action Badge.

The Florence Eastman American Legion Post 280’s events begin at 1:30 pm on Memorial Day, May 27, at the Mattapoisett Library Grounds. As part of the program, Gutowski’s mother, Joan, will deliver remarks as Principal Speaker.

Other highlights include a speech from Commander Michael Lamoureux, music from the Old Hammondtown Orchestra, an address from Rep. William M. Straus, a message from Veteran Agent Berry Denham, and a reading of the Gettysburg Address from Johanna Appleton of Old Rochester Regional Junior High School.

After the ceremony, members of the Legion will place wreaths on the War Memorials. Parade Marshall Lamoureux will assemble the marchers, who will proceed to the Town Wharf for a JROTC Firing Squad Salute to the veterans who lost their lives at sea, then to Cushing Cemetery to fire a salute to those who lost their lives on land, and ending at the Legion Hall.

Marion’s parade, meanwhile, will start at 9:00 am on Memorial Day at the Music Hall. After a rendition of the National Anthem from the Sippican School Band and short ceremony at the Civil War Monument, according to officials, the parade will proceed:

“South on Front Street to Main Street, west on Main Street, then north on to Spring Street, for a ceremony at the Marion Town Hall.

After the ceremony at the Marion Town Hall, the parade will continue north on Spring Street to Old Landing Cemetery for a ceremony at the graveside of Benjamin D. Cushing.

The parade will continue through Old Landing Cemetery, north on Mill Street to Ryders Lane, east on Ryders Lane to Old Landing Veterans Memorial Park for a ceremony at the

World War I, World War II, Korean, Vietnam, and Gulf War Monuments.”

On May 25 at 10:00 am, members of the Benjamin D. Cushing Post 2425 Veterans of Foreign Wars will place flowers on the graves of deceased veterans of all wars. The placement of flowers will start at Evergreen Cemetery and then proceed to three other cemeteries in Marion.

By Shawn Badgley