Memorial Day Parade hosted at Tisbury School

Martha’s Vineyard service men and women honored at annual event.

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Brothers Riley (left) and Griffen Craig. Riley is 16 and proud to be a Sea Cadet with the Naval Sea Cadet Corps youth program. — Bella Bennett

The annual Vineyard Haven Memorial Day parade was forced indoors on Monday by pelting wind and rain, for the second year in a row. The Tisbury school gymnasium hosted a number of active and retired service members from the community, as well as spectators who packed the stands.

Jo Ann Murphy, the Director of Veteran Services for Dukes County and a member of the American Legion Post 257, led the ceremony.

Among those to grace the stage was boy scout Huck Moore, who led the community in the Pledge of Allegiance. Lieutenant Colonel David O’Sullivan then introduced the guest speaker, Colonel Virginia Doonan, the commander of the 102nd Intelligence Wing at Otis Air National Guard Base. After a compassionate tribute to those that have given their lives in military service, Murphy read the list of veterans that have passed away since last Memorial Day.

Wreaths were then hung to commemorate those who have passed, and a small firing squad exited the gym momentarily to fire shots in tribute to their fallen comrades. The gymnasium was filled with the sobering smell of gunpowder, a stark reminder of the meaning of war and the bravery and courage within those who choose to serve our country.

Afterward, Murphy invited all in attendance to the American Legion for refreshments, in lieu of what would have been the 25th annual avenue of flags in the Oak Grove cemetery.

This Memorial Day, we honor all of the heroic Americans that ensure our liberty, especially those within our community. Those that we have lost since last memorial day, along with the war in which they fought, are listed below.

 

George E. White, WWII

George Santos, WWII

Arthur BenDavid, Korea

Vernon Jernegan, Korea

Bailey Norton, WWII

Robert Lunbeck, WWII

Harold Hall, Korea

Richard Doane, WWII

Earl B. Richards, WWII

Robert Fauteux, Vietnam

John Bettencourt, Vietnam

David McDonough, Korea

Ralph Jones, Korea

Lynn C. Murphy, WWII

Robert Priore, Vietnam

Howard Attebery

Nelson Smith, WWII

Robert Kinnecom, Korea

Shirley Kaeka, Korea

John L. Stenroth, Vietnam

Samuel B. Issakson, Merchant Marine, WWII

John Kenney, Vietnam

Douglas Look, Vietnam

Anthony Guyther, WWII

Thomas Brennan, WWII

Peter Bettencourt, Vietnam

Glenn Carpenter, Korea

Edward Fedor, peacetime

Neva Thornhill, peacetime

Philip Reynolds, Korea