ORANGE — Dozens of citizens turned out on a bitter, blustery Sunday morning in Memorial Park to pay tribute to our military veterans, past and present.
John Laughton, Commander of American Legion Post 172, welcomed the crowd and led the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance to start the Veterans Day ceremony. He introduced Leo Barber, Commander of District 2 American Legion, and guest speaker James Cornwell, from the Board of Trustees for Soldiers Memorials.
Laughton said, “I see a lot of veterans’ faces out there — this is our day. I want to honor and salute you for your service.” He formally snapped a white-gloved hand to his brow and paused before continuing. “This is a day to remember our relatives, a day to remember the sacrifices of our World War 2 and World War I veterans. If they were prisoners or war or missing in action,that was something they have to sacrifice and deal with their whole life. I call it the everlasting pain they don’t get over.”
Laughton said veterans, including active military will be “dealing with things their whole life.”
He noted that the United States is the “leadng country of peace and tranquility. We go all over the world and help other countries to become the same way we are. It’s important to remember.”
He spoke of his father, a mechanic on the Airforce’s Fortress bombers, who was called back to the military to serve in Korea. “Once the war started, they they had to deal with everything.” He said America had to change its whole perspective. “Everyone had to work hard. Everyone had to work, we had to make the planes to support the war. Everybody in factories had to work harder. It’s something to remember. God bless our relatives as well.”
Laughton spoke of the high level of respect veterans had for the people of New England. “They regarded us as very dedicated,” he said, “The only other state that I found when I was in the Army, that was so dedicated and devoted to our country, was the state of Texas. I think even today if you’re burning a flag in Texas they’ll shoot you on the spot.”
He said New England was always referred to and looked at as an honorable, dedicated area of the United States in terms of service to country.
Chaplain Doug McIntosh offered the opening prayer and reminded those present to honor and remember the many veterans who served their country in time of war and peace throughout the world. He acknowledged the military members presently serving, some who are in harms’ way throughout the world.
Guest speaker James Cornwell, a member of the Trustees of Soldiers Committee in town, spoke about Memorial Park and the Soldier’s Memorial specifically.
Cornwell said, “Today is the day to dedicate to family members, relatives, friends and acquaintances who have been involved in the U.S. military over the years.” He noted veterans memorials are present in various locations throughout town. Motioning to the Peace Statue in the center of the park, he noted it is the official Peace Statue of Massachusetts.
He spoke of the honor roll wall behind him where the color guard stood at attention, which lists all those who started their military careers in the town of Orange. He said there are memorials and flags at eight cemeteries in town and the trustees are responsible for them all.
The committee is in the process to expanding the honor roll wall to include all actions since the Vietnam war, and also restoring memorials and flags at each of the cemeteries.
Noting the committee operates on donations only, without any tax receipts from the town, he encouraged donations to be sent to the Town Hall at 6 Prospect Street. He also took the opportunity to announce that a district veterans representative will be available at the Orange Armory on Thursday, Nov. 15 from 1 to 3 p.m. “There are 705 veterans in the town of Orange,” he said, “Any may meet and make this connection.”
Cornwell concluded his remarks by saying, “Veterans Day is another day to remember individuals who served and returned to continued to their lives in various ways, to ones who paid the ultimate price — the price paid for the defense of our country — and celebrate the freedom that has been given to all of us.”
Remarks were followed by a gun salute by Scott Cloutier, Spec. 4 U.S. Army, Bruce Fowler, Airman First Class, U.S. Air Force, and Doug McIntosh Msg. U.S. Air Force.
The ceremony concluded with the playing of “Taps.”