Mattapoisett’s Florence Eastman American Legion Post 280 hosted the annual Memorial Day Observances with participation from not only the post in the form of Post Commander Rachel Perron guiding the event that included performances from the Old Hammandtown Elementary School Band and the Showstoppers.
With the passing of Chaplain Richard Langhoff, Tri-Town Veterans Agent Chris Gerrior led the participants in prayer. There followed remarks from Mattapoisett Select Board member Jordan Collyer, a reading of the Governor’s Proclamation by Old Rochester Regional High School student Zoe Motta and a rousing rendition of “My Country ‘Tis of Thee.”
These beginning points in the town’s Memorial Day Observances set the tone – a mixture of looking back in reverence to fallen military personnel and looking forward to understand the meaning of giving one’s all.
Retiring State Representative William Straus said that this was the last time he’d be addressing the town in this manner, having made the decision not to run for re-election. He said he wanted to say something different, which was difficult after many years of giving Memorial Day speeches.
“We have no direct connection to Gettysburg,” he began, “yet Lincoln was looking back and finding meaning in looking forward, because there was unfinished business.”
The Gettysburg Address, written at a time when the country had much unfinished business to deal with, was read by Old Colony Regional Vocational-Technical High School student Geneva Gerrior, whose tender voice gave new reference to words that still resonate throughout the country.
Perron read the poem “In Flanders Fields,” written by Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae, a few poetic lines that describe the darkness of war.
After the playing of “Grand Old Flag” by the band, local correspondent Linda Ferreira shared her thoughts. She shared the story of her own family’s military service that included marrying into a military family. Her husband Daniel Ferreira is currently serving in the Army National Guard as a Chief Warrant Officer 5 and has served 38 years.
Ferreira said that Memorial Day was very special for her family and explained the differences between Armed Forces Day, for those currently wearing a uniform, Veterans’ Day for those who once wore a military uniform, and Memorial Day, “…for those who never made it out of uniform.”
Ferreira closed her comments with a poem by Frederick Emerson published in 1892 and which reads in part: “Wherever we gather today ’neath the stars, let’s honor the living now wearing the scars, which they brought from the fields of battle and strife, while protecting our flag and our nation’s life, let the flowers bear tribute in their simple way, and each one remember Memorial Day, remember the dead and the living though few, who fought ’neath the stars and the red, white and blue.”
By Marilou Newell