North County Observes an Early Memorial Day
Olivia Zoito, an eighth-grader at Clarksburg School, reads 'In Flanders' Fields" at the town's Memorial Day ceremony. She also gave the Gettysburg Address.
Wayne Soares, motivational speaker, comedian, son of a World War II Seabee, and friend to veterans was the keynote speaker, and he shared some of the stories from his many interviews with veterans over the years. Soares' "Veteran Spotlight" appears twice a month on iBerkshires.com.
"Over the last several years I have been honored and privileged to write and hear the stories of the brave men and women that have served our country," he said. "On this special day, I'm reminded of our Vietnam veterans."
Soares spoke of Cpl. Bill Blaisdell, an Army combat medic at Lai Khe base camp who assumed command during battle after his commanding officer took a bullet in the head.
He said he was reminded of Pvt. Johnny Blake, a tunnel rat in the United States Army.
"Talking about the constant threat of danger on every mission, the reoccurring nightmares and cold sweats," he recalled. "And never forgetting the screams of a fellow soldier who was in front of him on a mission. Who ran into a booby trap of poisonous snakes set by the Viet Cong."
He mentioned Captain Margaret Swarsh, a combat nurse in the Army who told him about the brutal 14-16 hour work days in the 12th evacuation center in Cu Chi, and Dr. Roger Cayden, an Army surgeon who talked about being overrun daily with wounded during the Tet Offensive.
Soares spoke of John Stryker Meyer, Green Beret, MACV-SOG and his recollections from the jungle
"The pitch blackness of the night, and the deadly quiet. How every time the wind stirred he felt the NVA soldier grow closer and closer," he said. "Until the soldier touched the tip of his boot,
letting out a gasp telling me, 'it felt like an eternity until the soldier moved away'."
He spoke of Captain Bill Albracht, United States Army, who recalled being under attack while in a bunker praying to get as many of his men out as possible, regardless of what happened to him.
"He recalled holding a dying soldier in his arms and of telling the boy's father and mother years later that their son didn't die alone, didn't die in vain," he said. "He died in the arms of a new friend."
Soares closed by thanking the Vietnam Veterans for their sacrifice
"To all of our Vietnam Veterans here today and around our great country I say a heartfelt thank you for your service," he said. "And a long-awaited, extremely long-overdue welcome home."
Earlier in the morning during the drive up the mountain, the group stopped near a small waterfall to share in a toast to all passed veterans.
Before the ceremony, Don Sommer of post 160 remarked on the brisk sunny weather atop Mount Greylock and thanked everyone for attending the ceremony that is often done in the snow, fog, or rain.
He said now more than ever Americans need to come together and honor what so many veterans died protecting.
"Our country is being separated," he said. "...We need to dedicate ourselves to remembering the veterans that gave their all. We need to bring this country back together again. We need to follow our constitution. That is what they died for, and we need to honor their memory and work towards that."
After a ceremony and firing squad, a memorial wreath was set in the rotunda of the tower, originally built on the state's highest peak as a memorial to Massachusetts servicemen killed in World War I. Breakfast was then served at the Bascom Lodge.
In Clarksburg, Joseph Bushika of the Veterans of Foreign Wars reminded the crowd gathered at the honor roll in front of Town Hall that Memorial Day was the most expensive holiday.
Bushika read from a social media post that's been making the rounds the last couple years and whose author is unknown.
"Every hot dog, every burger, every spin around the lake or drink with friends and family is a debt purchased by others," he quoted. It's a holiday "in honor of those who paid in life and blood. ... This isn't simply a day off. This is a day to remember that others paid for every free breath you ever get to take."
Bushika read off the names of Clarksburg residents who died serving their nation as Laurie Boudreau tolled the bell.
Boudreau also sang the national anthem, the Drury High School band played patriotic selections and the Clarksburg Volunteer Fire Department provided the honor guard. Clarksburg School student Olivia Zoito gave the Gettysburg Address and read the poem "In Flanders' Fields" and Town Treasurer Danielle Luchi read Frederick W. Emerson's poem "Memorial Day."
Both Selectman Jeffrey Levanos and Town Administrator Carl McKinney addressed the gathering, with McKinney reminding them that sacrifice being honored was a "foundation for our democracy, foundation of the rules of government, foundation of how we treat each other, a foundation for us to work on and improve, a foundation on which to build a more perfect union."
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