THE U.S. MARINE CORPS Color Guard 451st CLB Attachment 5 of Ft. Devens presents the colors during the playing of the Star-Spangled Banner by the NRHS Marching Band in honor of the country’s war dead to open the town’s Memorial Day ceremony on the common. (Maureen Doherty Photo)
By MAUREEN DOHERTY
NORTH READING — On a slightly damp but warm spring morning, the townspeople came together on Memorial Day to remember with gratitude the ultimate sacrifices paid by those who heroically gave their lives in the service of their country in wars and conflicts both here and abroad across the centuries.
The day began with early morning tributes led by the North Reading Co. of Minit and Militia at the town’s three cemeteries — Riverside, Harmony Vale and Park Street — plus the Blue Star Memorial at Ipswich River Park. At each stop, opening remarks, prayer and the Roll of Honor was read by Sgt. Geoffrey Bemiss, Taps was played by high school trumpeters Ivan Deiko and Alexina Sepke, three musket volleys were fired, and a color guard was provided by Boy Scout Troop 750.
The tribute to the fallen continued at the town’s annual Memorial Day ceremony at the top of the Town Common, near the war memorials. For the first time in decades this ceremony was held prior to the Memorial Day parade and a sizable crowd gathered to pay their respects.
Once at the common, those who had participated in the services at the town’s cemeteries were now joined by the entire NRHS Marching Band, under the direction Drum Major Isabelle Kim and Band Director Ben Owens, a large contingent of Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts of all ages, a U.S. Marine Corps Color Guard unit from Fort Devens, Cannoneer Sean O’Brien of the Knox Artillery Regiment, additional members of the Minit and Militia, members of the North Reading VFW Post 10874 and a plethora of town officials and guest speakers.
Master of Ceremonies and Minit and Militia Sgt. Geoff Bemiss introduced the honorary parade marshals, Capt. Rich Stratton and his wife Linda, lauding them for their long history of service to the town through their involvement in numerous organizations. Rich Stratton is also a combat veteran who served in Vietnam. “You two, more than anybody else, are responsible for keeping this parade and the ceremonies going. He’s been captain for number of years in our company and Linda is right there at his side for everything. It is quite a team effort.”
Bemiss also praised retiring Veterans Services Director Susan Magner. “You have done yeoman’s work for all the vets. Your enthusiasm is contagious and we wish you well and you will be missed,” he said.
Pastor Kevin Mickel of the Martins Pond Union Baptist Church, offered the invocation. “Our gracious Lord and heavenly father, we come before you now as a community and as a nation to collectively pause and remember the sacrifice of all those who gave their lives for the freedom of our country. We pray especially for the families of the fallen that you give them comfort and peace as they memorialize their loved ones. Father, let all that we do here this morning be pleasing in your sight. Let us mark this solemn occasion with a proper feeling in our hearts. Watch over us and let us bring honor to each other and to your holy name we pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.”
After the U.S. Marine Corps 451st CLB Attachment 5 Color Guard of Fort Devens presented the colors, the Star-Spangled Banner was played by the North Reading High School Marching Band.
After the retirement of the colors, Bemiss addressed the veterans present in the crowd. “We are most pleased to honor all of our veterans today. We thank each of you for your dedicated service and sacrifice during our country’s most perilous times,” Bemiss said, adding, “Folks in North Reading have always served our country in time of need beginning with the French and Indian War, the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, the War of 1848, the Civil War, Spanish American War, WWI and II, Korean Conflict, Vietnam Conflict, Operation Urgent Fury, the First Gulf Conflict, Operation Iraqi Freedom and Afghanistan.”
Standing but feet away from the five war memorials listing the names of those from North Reading who have answered the call of duty to their country over the centuries, Bemiss the read the Roll of Honor of veterans with ties to North Reading who have died during the past year, followed by a moment of silence. They are: Ronald J. Arsenault, William B. Birkmaier Jr., Herbert E. Batchelder Sr., Richard M. Bowen, Everett E. Chesley, Robert L. Cofer, Charles Demetri, Lyman E. Fancy II, Thomas E. Forster Sr., Donald F. Gonzalo, Phillip J. Hoyt, Richard L. Johnson, Philip C. Lawson, Richard A. Margeson, Edward F. Paul, Edward F. Piercey, Philip C. Spencer, Michael A. Tiberio, Paul R. Yahnian and, most recently, Charles E. Encarnacao.
Town Administrator Michael Gilleberto then read the Memorial Day Proclamation of Gov. Maura Healey.
Guest Speaker Liane Gonzalez
Select Board member Liane Gonzalez followed with a speech, a poem entitled “A Grateful Nation,” and presentation of a bouquet of flowers to retiring Veterans Services Director Susan Magner as fellow Select Board members Steve O’Leary, Rich Wallner and Nick Masse and T.A. Gilleberto also gathered around to offer their congratulations.
“Today, we gather with a profound sense of gratitude and respect as we commemorate Memorial Day, a day dedicated to honoring the brave men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country. This day is more than a holiday; it is a solemn reminder of the cost of freedom. It is a day to reflect on the courage, commitment, and selflessness of those who answered the call to defend our nation, knowing that their duty might lead them to the ultimate sacrifice,” Gonzalez said.
“…Today, we also honor the families left behind. The parents, spouses, children, and siblings who have borne the profound sorrow of loss with dignity and strength. Their sacrifice is equally profound, and their resilience embodies the very spirit of our nation,” she said, adding, “As we pay tribute, let us also renew our commitment to the values for which these heroes fought. Let us strive to build a nation worthy of their sacrifice, one that upholds the principles of freedom, equality, and justice for all. Let us support our veterans, those who have returned home but carry the invisible scars of war. Their service and sacrifice continue, and they deserve our unwavering gratitude and support…As we stand here, in the peace and freedom they secured, let us stand in reverence and in gratitude, for those who gave their all. Their legacy lives on in our hearts, and their sacrifices will never be forgotten.”
Guest Speaker Rep. Brad Jones
State Representative Brad Jones, the House Minority Leader, was the next guest speaker.
“…Since our nation’s beginning nearly 1.4 million Americans have made the ultimate sacrifice to create, preserve and defend our freedom and our democracy. Our own state of Massachusetts has seen more than 37,000 of its own residents remembered with the planting of flags on Boston Common last week as well as the planting of flags on our own common,” Jones said.
“America is not a perfect country but it is a great country, because it is always striving to live up to its founding ideals, always bending its arc towards justice,” Jones said. “America is a rich quilt whose diverse people, cultures and stories are stitched together by the threads of freedom earned by the sacrifices of the Americans we remember and honor today. These stitches have been both strained and reinforced at various times in our nation’s history. They were strained to the breaking point by the Civil War that set brother against brother and they were strengthened by the enormous universal sense of purpose experienced during World War II.”
“I urge all of us gathered here today, gathered across our Commonwealth and across our country to endeavor with a renewed sense of commitment to work together, even in resolving our differences, so that we can strengthen and preserve those threads that bind our great American quilt together and in doing so will ensure they have not died in vain but instead have been remembered and honored for their sacrifices that we have earned what they paid for,” Jones said.
(His speech in its entirety is republished as a guest editorial in today’s Transcript.)
After the conclusion of his remarks, the band played American March Classics and Military Escort leading into the laying of wreaths at the base of each war memorial by five members of the North Reading VFW Post 10874.
The Minit and Militia, under the command of Capt. James Maloney, then conducted the firing of musket volleys. The cannon firing was then done by Sean O’Brien of the Knox Artillery Regiment, and Taps was played by Ivan Deiko and Alexina Sepke. Pastor Mickel then offered the benediction and the NRHS band closed the ceremony with a rendition of God Bless America. Those present then reassembled for the parade that began at 11:15 a.m. and headed down Bow Street to Park Street then Mt. Vernon Street, Haverhill Street and back to the Town Common.
By far the most numerous participants were the children involved in youth civic groups and youth sports in town. From Little League to Girls Softball and Youth Soccer to Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts, each group proudly carried their banners and eagerly tossed handfuls of candy to all the children lining both sides of the parade route. It’s probably the only time their parents allow them to pick up candy off asphalt and eat it! And there were church floats, antique cars of all eras, shapes and sizes and numerous town vehicles from the Police, Fire DPW departments.
