VFW Memorial Day Ceremony Honors Veterans

By Nancy K. Crevier

An occasional brisk breeze sent the row of American and military flags lining the pathway and posted above the deck of the Veterans of Foreign Wars’ hall on Tinkerfield Road aflutter as a small but solemn group of residents paid homage to soldiers past and present at a brief Memorial Day ceremony, Monday morning, May 31. Friends, relatives, and members of the community mingled before the start of the ceremony, shaking hands with the several veterans present, and standing silently to take in the patriotic surroundings.

A number of those present took time to visit the Operation Quiet Comfort table set up by Betsy Krauschar and her daughter, Aspen. The Krauschars’ Operation Quiet Comfort project creates “Four Freedoms Gratitude Quilts” to comfort injured and sick soldiers at home and abroad, using squares of denim bearing handwritten messages. First Selectman Pat Llodra was the first to affix a personal message to a quilt square Monday morning.

Then, introduced by Connecticut Army National Guard, Alpha Co. 1-102 Rich Monckton, Ms Llodra reflected on the first celebration of Memorial Day in 1868 at Arlington Cemetery, noting that since the loss of 600,000 in the Civil War, another 600,000 have perished fighting to preserve the freedom of the United States of America. By honoring our war dead, who gave up the life they could have lived, said Ms Llodra, “we can live our daily lives.” Listing the many freedoms enjoyed by Americans today, she noted, “They traded their lives so we could have all of this.” In closing, she urged all present to take a break from holiday festivities at 3 pm. “Stop and think of those [that Memorial Day] honors. It is a small pause,” Ms Llodra said.

Following Ms Llodra’s speech, Connecticut Army National Guard veteran Rich Monckton took the podium. “Memorial Day is a time for all Americans to contemplate. It is a sacred day of remembrance… By honoring the war dead, we preserve their memory,” said Mr Monckton. “We honor the memory of those who not only answer the call to service, but to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice,” he reminded those present.

This Memorial Day was a particularly personal one for the National Guard veteran, as well as for his two brothers, Sergeant Thomas Monckton and Corporal Daniel Monckton, now serving in the Army and Marine Corps.

Both Rich and Daniel Monckton served in Afghanistan with Edwin Rivera of Norwalk, Connecticut’s most recent casualty of the war, who died Tuesday, May 25, from wounds suffered May 20. He called for a moment of silence to honor his fallen comrade.

In reflecting on the traits of those who chose to serve in the military, Mr Monckton said that it is strength of character, along with courage and devotion to duty, that makes soldiers unique among Americans. As Franklin D. Roosevelt said, quoted Mr Monckton, “Freedom cannot be bestowed, it must be achieved.” It is up to those present to ensure that the next generation understands the true meaning of Memorial Day, stressed Mr Monckton.

To all presently serving, to those who have served, and to the families of service men and women, he offered thanks on behalf of the VFW Post 308 and the American Legion Post 202. Visit the gravesite of a veteran in the coming week, said Mr Monckton. Shake the hand of a soldier and thank them. “Tell them you care and are grateful for their commitment to our country and are in awe of their courage,” he suggested.

VFW Senior Vice Commander Bill Farley laid the memorial wreath at the headstone commemorating those who died in service to the United States, as Mr Monckton reminded the audience “as long as two comrades survive, we will pay tribute to our fallen dead.”