By Amelia Tarallo
Hometown Weekly Staff
Once a year, on Memorial Day, residents meet in Pine Hill Cemetery to honor members of the military who have died in the line of duty. Last year’s in-person ceremony was canceled due to COVID-19 concerns. This year’s celebration had residents back for bittersweet remembrances.
A crowd formed in the cemetery, minutes before festivities began, despite the dreary weather. As the crowd chatted and the band assembled, the sound of bagpipes could be heard in the distance.
Mike Kickham, an organizer of the event, opened with a brief speech about the importance of Memorial Day. “I commend the parents for instilling in the numerous youth today that in your town, this is the only place to be. I’m sure that there are many friends and relatives that would love to be standing where you are today but are incapacitated in one way or another and are unable to join us,” said Kickham. He continued to explain Memorial Day’s Civil War origin, as well as the effort of residents to ensure memorials and graves were properly decorated.
Kickham was followed by the opening prayer, read by Father Robert Blaney. “Memorial Day honors those whose deaths were in defense of the liberties we all enjoy as a nation. Liberty and freedom are not free; they’re not cheap. They’re bought with and defended with the price of precious lives. We do not and must not forget, rather we are enterally grateful for those unprecedented freedoms. Our war dead reminds us of the responsibility imposed up to us to care for those freedoms and to exercise them rightly,” said Father Blaney in the opening of the prayer.
After the prayer, Kickham announced the raising of the colors and the playing of the "Star-Spangled Banner". After the raising of the flag, the Dover-Sherborn High School played the National Anthem to a completely silent audience. Doug Brodie, Sherborn’s Veterans' Services Officer, placed flowers for the veterans.
Paul DeRensis represented the Select Board during the event. “We remember today not just their sacrifice, but the courage of all veterans who put themselves in harm’s way. We also recognize the families of the fallen for they have made huge sacrifices,” said DeRensis. After a brief introduction, DeRensis recited Abraham Lincoln’s "Gettysburg Address" for the audience, a fitting tribute to those who died on battlefields defending their country.
The Memorial Day ceremony wrapped up with a reading of the honor roll delivered by Doug Brodie, while Betsy Johnson served as the bell ringer. The honor roll covered all conflicts, beginning with King Philip’s War.
One Monday every May seems to be too little to remember those who gave the greatest sacrifice for their country. But by ensuring the keeping of our nation's cemeteries and memorials, as well as through ceremonies like these to honor the fallen, we ensure that their selfless legacy continues.
