Above: Memorial tributes included honoring veterans who died within the past year and soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice during the Civil War. (photos by Beth Melo)
On Memorial Day, Southborough residents honored the town’s veterans, especially those lost in battle.
I’m sharing my photos from the parade and ceremonies.
As usual, the parade passed through downtown and then wound its way through cemeteries and war memorials. The procession was made up of veterans, Town officials, scouts, and the Trottier Middle School Band. Adding to its length was a train of residents following along to help remember late veterans. (The beautiful weather likely contributed to a big turnout this year.)
VFW Commander Steve Whynot and American Legion Post Commander Dan Kolenda led ceremonies at the Rural Cemetery, the Old Burial Ground (which includes the graves of Revolutionary War veterans), the Civil War Monument, and the All Wars Memorial.
Commander Whynot dedicated this year’s ceremonies to two members of the Southborough Veterans community who died in the last few months — Dick Varney and Ray Minucci.
Following tradition, the ceremonies included an invocation (by St. Mathew’s Church’s Father Flynn), the naming of veterans laid to rest in Southborough over the past year (read by Colonel Jackman), and remarks honoring all who served and recognizing those who long ago gave their lives in battle.
At the Civil War Memorial, 6th grade Trottier student Ava Wamburu recited the Gettysburg Address. Commander Whynot spoke about the memorial, one of the oldest in Massachusetts, which was completed in 1867 to honor the 17 Southborough residents to die in that war — 9 in battle, and 8 to disease, including one who died as a Prisoner of War.
At the All Wars Memorial, residents were reminded that the memorial lists 700 names of Southborough residents who have served in wartime from WWI through recent service in the “War on Global Terrorism”. As always, special recognition was given to the 13 names in the center of the Memorial — residents who were Killed in Action. Veteran John Minucci, one of seven brothers who all served in past wars, recited the poem Flanders Field. At each stop, the ceremony included a gun salute (by veterans) and playing Taps (by ARHS students). Three ARHS students also joined the ceremony to sing patriotic songs.
In his remarks, Whynot reminded community members that Memorial Day isn’t a “Happy” one, and not meant to be about sales and celebrating the kickoff of summer. He urged recognizing that the BBQs and other fun that residents would be able to enjoy later in the day is thanks to the service and sacrifice of veterans and service members.
Here are my photo highlights*:
On Friday evening, volunteers joined the veterans to replace the flags at each veterans’ grave in the rural cemetery. The Community Advocate took photos of that event. You can view those here.
*(The third photo in the above gallery was by Joao Melo and edited by Beth Melo, the rest were taken by Beth Melo)
