Bedford will Observe Memorial Day on Monday, May 30

Ken Gordon
State Representative Ken Gordon addressing Bedford’s 2015 Memorial Day observance at Veteran’s Memorial Park – Image (c) JMcCT, 2015 all rights reserved

Submitted by the Bedford Patriotic Ceremonies Committee

Bedford will observe Memorial Day in multiple ways on Monday, May 30, 2016. The Grand Marshall of Bedford’s observance will be James A. Burton, MSgt. Retired (USAF); he will preside over the following events:

  • 08:30 AM – At the Anthony Hunt Hamilton American Legion Post – AL Chaplain Jerry Hartmann, will offer prayer, wreath ceremony with Troop 194 Boy Scouts assisting Brig. Gen. Oscar DePriest followed by Firing Squad Volleys and the playing of TAPS.
  • 08:45 AM -.At Shawsheen Cemetery – In a memorial service at Shawsheen Cemetery, Brig. Gen. Oscar DePriest will offer a prayer, followed by remarks by Don Corey of the Bedford Historical Society, representatives of the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
  • 09:15 AM – On the Great Road bridge over the Shawsheen River – A memorial wreath will be tossed into river in honor of Navy Veterans by V.F.W. and American Legion Commanders.
  • 10:00 AM – At Bedford’s Old Burying Ground on Springs Road – Capt. Roy Kring of the Bedford Minutemen Company will introduce Historical Society member Lee Yates who will talk briefly about Old Burying Ground. Capt. Kring will read Roll Call of all Revolutionary War Veterans buried there. Terrence L. Parker will give a brief history about the ex-slaves buried who are also buried there. Fifers from the Bedford Minuteman Company will play “Amazing Grace.” Musket shots by Minutemen, followed by TAPS by BHS Band members.
  • 10:45 AM – At the Fallen Veterans Memorial, in front of the entrance to Bedford High School on Mudge Way – Veterans Memorial Tribute
  • 11:00 AM – Parade begins at Mudge Way The parade will step off along Mudge Way, stopping at WWI Memorial on Bedford Common for brief remarks by Lee Yates and a prayer offered by Malcom Roberts of the F.W.:with a rifle salute, and TAPS
  • 11:15 AM – Parade arrives at Veterans Memorial Park for Memorial Day ceremonies – Patriotic Holiday Committee Chair Paul Purchia will welcome guests and participants. Brig. Gen. Oscar DePriest will give the Invocation. The Bedford High School Band will play “God Bless America.” Dignitaries will offer brief remarks, and Col. David Dunklee (USAF) will present the Keynote Address. The BHS student whose essay on “How Does Bedford’s History Help Me Understand the Importance of Memorial Day?” was chosen will read their work. A roll call of Veterans who passed on during the past year will be read by Joe Piantedosi., and poppies will be placed on the plaques naming the thirteen Bedford men who were killed in action during WW II, Vietnam, and Iraq.  The BHS Band will play the Star Spangled Banner while the flag is raised by Grand Marshal Burton. Kevin Cobb of the American Legion will offer a benediction, and students in the Bedford High ROTC will present a rifle salute, followed by TAPS to end the ceremony.

In case of heavy rains, the Veterans Memorial Park ceremonies will be moved indoors to the Bedford High School Auditorium.

In Memoriam

Bedford Veterans Killed in Action

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  • WWII: Frederick Genetti, US Navy; George Vetterman, US Army; Alfred Kace, US Army; Gregory Muldoon, US Army; Leslie Neville, US Navy; John E. Ross, US Navy; Charles Ryan, US Army, and Ralph Hume, US Navy.
  • Vietnam: Dennis M. O’Neill, US Army; Terry M. Reed, US Air Force; Robson W. Wills, US Army.
  • Iraq: John D. Hart, US Army and Travis R. Desiato, US Marine Corps

This Past Year’s Deceased Veterans

  • WWII: Denis Costa, Joseph J. Golumb Sr., Donald A. Grassi, John Hrinishin, John E. Japp MD, Donald Jenkins Jr., Michael Kucher, Benedict B. Letizi, George J. McCartney, Keith Phinney, William J. Porell MD, Aprippino J. Russo, Frederic C.R. Steward, Gismonde A. Silvestrone, and Albert I. Sutkus
  • WWII & Korea: Joseph E. Bissanti
  • Korea: Willis L. Davis, Edward J. Holt, Joseph L. Ignazio, Paul B. Johnson, John K. Litchfield Sr., John F. MacQuilken Jr., Frank R. Sacco Jr., Raymond J. St. Germain, Edward P. Ver Planck
  • Vietnam: Robert J. Matthews; Douglas P. Mix, Paul A. Pelletier, Jeffrey C. Webber
  • Peacetime or Unknown: William H. Copp Jr., Everett F. Higson Jr., Ralph E. Laundry, Edward P. Modoono Sr., Edward J. Curley, Melvin Goldman, Paul A. Hermandinger, Edward T. Kalisiak, Lucille M. Potter, and Dwight N. Vibbert.

About Memorial Day

Memorial Day was officially proclaimed on 5 May 1868 by General John Logan, commander of the Grand Army of the Republic. First observed on 30 May, 1868 flowers were placed on the graves of both the Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery.

The first state to officially recognize the holiday was New York in 1873. By 1890 it was recognized by all of the northern states. The South refused to acknowledge the day, honoring their dead on separate days until after World War I (when the holiday changed from honoring just those who died fighting in the Civil War to honoring Americans who died fighting in any war). It is now celebrated in almost every State on the last Monday in May.

In 1915, inspired by the poem “In Flanders Fields,” Moina Michael replied with her own poem:

We cherish too, the Poppy red
That grows on fields where valor led,
It seems to signal to the skies
That blood of heroes never dies.

She conceived of an idea to wear red poppies on Memorial Day in honor of those who died serving the nation during war. She was the first to wear one, and sold poppies to her friends and co-workers with the money going to benefit servicemen in need.

Shortly before Memorial Day in 1922 the VFW became the first national veterans’ organization to sell poppies.

 

 

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