Bedford Remembers, 2018: Memorial Day at Veterans Memorial Park

State Representative Ken Gordon (l), Grand Marshals Donald Corey and Henry Miranda (seated), with members of the Bedford Minuteman Company standing guard at the rear of the park – Image (c) Barbara Purchia, 2018 all rights reserved – Click to view larger image

By Jeffrey Epstein

Bedford’s Memorial Day observance offered the opportunity to honor all veterans generally and to hear the personal memories of friends or family members of those who served.

Events included ceremonies at Bedford High School, a parade to the World War I Memorial, and additional honors at Veterans Memorial Park.

Bedford High School’s Junior ROTC cadets held a ceremony at the school’s Fallen Veterans’ Memorial – Image (c) Barbara Purchia, 2018 all rights reserved – Click to view larger image

 

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Paul Purchia – Image (c) Elyse Purchia, 2018 all rights reserved – Click to view larger image

Paul Purchia, chair of the Patriotic Holiday Committee that organized the Memorial Day events, welcomed people and introduced the JROTC cadets. Four cadets held roses in remembrance of fallen veterans to honor their service, including Army Private First Class John D. Hart and Marine Lance Corporal Travis R. Desiato, for whom the Route 225 bridge over the Concord River was named on Friday, May 25. Three rifle volleys by the Hanscom Patriotic Honor Guard and Taps was sounded with an echo from a second bugler.

Bedford’s Fire and Police Department Honor Guards stood at attention during ceremonies at the High School’s Fallen Veterans’ Memorial – Image (c) Barbara Purchia, 2018 all rights reserved – Click to view larger image

 

Despite very gray skies and intermittent rain sprinkles, the parade stepped off as planned from Mudge Way. Following the police escort, the Bedford Police & Firefighter Honor Guard accompanied the Grand Marshals, 93-year-old Henry Miranda and Bedford Historical Society President Don Corey. Other parade units included the Bedford Minutemen; Keynote Speaker  Col. Roman L Hund, Commander of the 66th Air Base Group at Hanscom Air Force Base; the Hanscom Air Force Base Patriotic Honor Guard; the BHS JROTC Marching Unit; the American Legion and VFW Auxiliaries; members of the Patriotic Holiday Committee; dignitaries, state and local officials; the BHS Marching Band; and Veterans, some of whom reside at the the Bedford VA or at Bedford Green.

 

The procession halted at the World War I Memorial, and Purchia introduced Town Historian Sharon McDonald, who recounted how different life was decades ago, before America’s involvement in the Great War that ended 100 years ago. She also noted that three Bedford veterans were killed in WWI, and she knew a person who knew them and remembered them as heroes. “We do remember them,” she added. “They are our heroes.” Image (c) Marc Hamilton, 2018 all rights reserved – Click to view larger image

 

Again, three rifle volleys sounded, followed by Taps and its echo.

As the procession neared the Veterans Memorial Park, the air filled with the fifes and drums of the Bedford Minuteman Company as they played “The Battle Hymn of the Republic,” and “When Johnny Comes Marching Home.”

Row upon row of white plastic chairs, damp with the rain, awaited the crowd. Nobody minded the water — it was easily wiped away. More than 150 people assembled for the ceremony. The rostrum faced 13 flags flanking the entrance corridor; one more was at half-staff on the flagpole.

Noting that fallen veterans were the reason for the day, Purchia said,” Their sacrifice has kept us a free people.”

 

The Bedford High School Band played “God Bless America” – Image (c) JMcCT, 2018 all rights reserved – Click to view larger image

 

Selectman William Moonan – Image (c) Barbara Purchia, 2018 all rights reserved – Click to view larger image

The speaking program began with Selectmen Chair Bill Moonan. Any speaker, Moonan said, has a terrible challenge in providing words equal to the occasion, even President Abraham Lincoln who remarked on that problem at the Gettysburg Cemetery. But the effort must be made, Moonan said, because of the debt owed to the soldiers who sacrificed their lives for our freedom. “It is this that motivates us” every Memorial Day, he said. Even those who died would wish that no future generation ever has to make the same sacrifices they did.

Rep. Ken Gordon began by thanking all who make the program possible, including Purchia, saying “he has been making it look easy” for the 15 years he has served on the Patriotic Holiday Committee.

For the Hart-Desiato bridge dedication, Gordon said, he originally thought perhaps not many would attend a Friday afternoon ceremony. However, about 250 people came. (Gordon attributed that estimate to a Bedford Fire Department official.). He also noted the presence of the Desiato and Hart families in the Veterans Park audience.

Col. Hund looked out over the Veterans Park crowd. “Memorial Day is a somber occasion,” he began. Recalling his own service, Hunt remembered a personal friend, Antoine, another airman in his unit in Baghdad. After Antoine was killed, he said, a memorial to him was established in Mississippi, and he still remembers him — just as many families of lost service members remember their loved ones. Memorial Day, Hunt said, is not just a nation’s general tribute. For many, it is exceedingly personal – Image (c) Barbara Purchia, 2018 all rights reserved – Click to view larger image

 

That Memorial Day is intensely personal was also the thesis of the two student essays on the theme of “Some think Memorial Day is all about parades and BBQs, do you agree?” Neither one did.

 

“The pain of losing a loved one…is profound indeed,” said 8th grader Abby Smith, the Patriot Division essay winner. She asked her listeners to remember not only fallen veterans, but also their grieving families. “These people need condolences more than we need a beach vacation,” she declared. – Image (c) Barbara Purchia, 2018 all rights reserved – Click to view larger image

Click this link to read Abby Smith’s essay

 

The other essay winner, JROTC Cadet Olivia Roscoe of the Minuteman Division, made a similar point, adding that in recent years, relatively few persons have served in the military and fewer soldiers have been lost compared to the large wars of the past. This perhaps explains, she said, an unwarranted emphasis on holiday festivities on Memorial Day – Image (c) Barbara Purchia, 2018 all rights reserved – Click to view larger image

Click this link to read Olivia Roscoe’s essay

 

Joseph Piantedosi read the names of Bedford Veterans who passed away in the last year. He also named the Bedford Veterans killed in action during World War II, Vietnam, and Iraq. – Image (c) Barbara Purchia, 2018 all rights reserved – Click to view larger image

 

The Bedford High School band played “The Star-Spangled Banner” as the Grand Marshals raised the flag to the top of the flagpole – Image (c) Barbara Purchia, 2018 all rights reserved – Click to view larger image

 

A benediction asked for blessings, three final volleys sounded, and Taps echoed, ending the day’s ceremonies – Image (c) JMcCT, 2018 all rights reserved – Click for larger image

 

Seen in the Crowd

Image (c) JMcCT, 2018 all rights reserved – Click to view larger image

 

Image (c) Sue Turner, 2018 all rights reserved – Click to view larger image

 

Image (c) JMcCT, 2018 all rights reserved – Click to view larger image

 

Image (c) JMcCT, 2018 all rights reserved – Click to view larger image

 

Image (c) Elyse Purchia, 2018 all rights reserved – Click to view larger image

 

Image (c) JMcCT, 2018 all rights reserved – Click to view larger image

 

Image (c) JMcCT, 2018 all rights reserved – Click to view larger image

 

And finally, thanks to the Bedford DPW for handling Monday’s logistics – Image (c) JMcCT, 2018 all rights reserved – Click to view larger image

 

 

 

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