First Selectman's Corner - May 31, 2019 - Memorial Day Remembering Our Heroes
May 31, 2019
Each year on Memorial Day, there are two local ceremonies held in Town to honor Memorial Day; one at Chapin Park (the Green in Pine Meadow) and the other at Memorial Park (Hoppen Road).
Historically, the First Selectman speaks at the ceremony held at Chapin Park.
Below is the speech presented by Dan Jerram at this year’s event:
“Memorial Day – 2019 – Remembering our Heroes”
May 27, 2019 at Chapin Park, New Hartford, CT
Thank you everyone for joining us here today. It’s my honor to be with you again – here with our distinguished veterans and members of the American Legion, Scouts, EMS and any other distinguished guests as we honor those that have given their lives in action to protect America. It’s not just an honor, I consider it a privilege to stand before you in the company of our heroes – those that stood up and answered the call to protect our families...our homes...and our Town. They stood up to protect America; to protect Freedom and we are thankful.
Today we gather to remember those that paid the ultimate sacrifice. Not to be confused with Armed Services Day – which we observed on May 18th - when we give thanks to all those active duty personnel…or Veteran’s Day on November 11th when we honor all those who served and returned. Today is about those we’ve lost. Those brave souls that gave the ultimate sacrifice. Those that paid the price with everything. Those that don’t get to celebrate; those that will miss our service here today and the barbeque this afternoon.
When I hear of people speaking of “celebrating” on Memorial Day,” I frequently think to myself; are we celebrating today? I know it’s a day off of work or school for the children here with us today; but I’m not sure if we’re celebrating. I guess on some level we “celebrate” the freedom that comes from their sacrifice, but to me Memorial Day is more of an observance and recognition of those lost. And sometimes I think with history – and our younger generations - some people blur the lines of which holiday is which.
As we look around New Hartford here on our Town Green we see the names of those that served our country. Their names are adorned on the plaque behind me, on a second plaque at Town Hall and two additional monuments at the Town Hill Memorial Park from our original settlers. It’s a very long list. New Hartford families have given much to this country and our families have sacrificed greatly for the peace and freedom we all enjoy today. So many names to remember, So many families to remember.
This weekend, to mark our Memorial Day observance I visited all of our eight cemeteries. Can you believe we have eight cemeteries? I visit them every year on Memorial Day weekend. I’m struck by the peacefulness in nearly all. Bakerville Cemetery and Town Hill are quiet and still – old and tranquil. Old Nepaug and Immaculate Conception lay along the rivers and the sounds of Mountain Brook and the Nepaug River are calming.
New Nepaug - which really isn’t new - is a hidden secret – probably the most private. You could sit for hours and go unnoticed. Pine Grove and the Village are largest, beautifully maintained with more of a mix of old and new families...and perhaps more familiar names – at least to me.
And then there is Pine Meadow – perhaps the oldest cemetery. And while clearly recognizable from this vantage point it is the smallest, and probably the least noticeable to passersby - - busy in their travels – but more important to history - it’s the cemetery whose inhabitants are the hardest to identify as the stones markings have worn thin over time.
Sometimes it amazes me how these places, most of which are so centrally located can be overlooked by so many. Perhaps we all have an aversion to these places gained from the thought that we’ll end up there one day.
I find that each time I visit one of these places, each cemetery has a different tale to tell that’s unique to the day. I’ve walked nearly every inch of these cemeteries and yet something different strikes me every time I go there. I’m not sure why. Perhaps it’s just the day, the time, the light or a unique phrase placed on a headstone that catches my eye.
Yesterday one marker caught my eye that read:
Warm Summer Sun – Shine Kindly Here
Warm Southern Wind – Blow Softly Here
Green Sod Above – Lie Light Lie
Good Night Dear Hearts – Good Night- Good Night.
Each headstone is unique and some more memorable to me than others….for so many different reasons.
Sometimes it’s the simple recognition of a newly deceased friend like Veteran Allyn Sedgwick from Bakerville who we lost last year; or the revelation of an old time New Hartford war hero that was unknown to me for many years - like Frank Goodwin who fought and lost his life in the Civil War at age of 23. He,too, rests in the Bakerville Cemetery not far from Allyn…he’s just been there a bit longer…some 155 years.
Maybe it’s the knowledge that Frank Goodwin’s neighbor Frank Bailey who was also from Bakerville – is laid to rest there too having died just a few months later when he was only 26. It’s hard to imagine that these two young men or their families didn’t know each other. Both from Bakerville…both named Frank. New Hartford heroes they are with a simple headstones recognizing their service to America.
But no headstone struck me more yesterday than that of young William G. Henderson – his headstone positioned prominently in the Old Nepaug Cemetery on Route 202. It’s not far from the road and I’ve passed it many times. Yesterday it caught my eye. More than likely due to the fact that the stone was newly cleaned – thanks to the young ladies of Scouts BSA Troop 2019 who completed a service project there this weekend. I stood for a moment wondering… I imagined for a moment that the locals called him Will. He probably hunted in the Nepaug Forest and fished in the river long before there was a reservoir. In his youth he was a friend and neighbor, but with his service and sacrifice – he became a hero to a nation as told by the markings on his headstone that reads:
“William G. Henderson died at Alexandria, VA. while in the service of his Country. Age 25”.
What greater tribute could be written on someone’s headstone? I’m not sure I can think of one today. What a legacy left in our town. What a memory to pass on.
This lies in stark contrast to the headstones that lie just across the street in the Pine Meadow Cemetery. Many of which are now faded. Illegible - perhaps a grim reminder of what can happen over time – what can happen to freedom if left undefended?
How easy it is to forget the importance of service and that, my friends, is why I’m happy to be with you all today. Because together - we will remember. We will recognize the sacrifices made by so many New Hartford families and pass it on to our children. We’ll tell the stories – even if we have to use our imagination just a little bit – about people like Frank Goodwin, Frank Bailey and Will Henderson. They were the brave young men of their time. They stood and answered the call to protect freedom. And for their service, for their sacrifice, we are thankful!
So today...I ask that we put aside the distractions for a short while…turn off the cell phone….tune out the noise of the cars careening down Main Street for just a brief moment in time…and remembering all those that have given so much. Honor their service, honor their sacrifice, honor the sacrifice of their families and most importantly…keep their memory alive within our children. For those young students that are here with us today – we are proud that you’ve come here today to help us honor our heroes, those lost in battle, and those left behind. We remember you, even if the text on the headstone has worn from time. We thank you and we thank your families for your service and sacrifice.
I thank you all for joining us here today to honor our fallen heroes. Thanks to our veterans and members the American Legion. Thank you for coming. I would also thank all those that helped participate in this service – Jackie Evoncian, Father Michael from Immaculate Conception, Hans Anderson, Frenchie Lavoie, Miles Caine, and all the Scouts of Troop 19 with Scout Master Piet Visser who helped place flags in Town and on the graves of our fallen soldiers. We appreciate all that you do for our town.
I ask that you join me in a round of applause to thank them. Have a safe and happy holiday weekend!
Daniel V. Jerram
First Selectman