Thursday, May 23, 2013

By Janet Hefler
Published: May 28, 2009

Although clouded by the recession - and a little rain - the Island's Memorial Day weekend activities nonetheless provided a traditional mix of respectful remembrance and pre-summer celebration.

A color guard provided by U.S. Coast Guard Station Menemsha leads the Tisbury parade as it exits Oak Grove Cemetery. Photo by M.C. Wallo

Starting at 7:30 am on Memorial Day, about 35 volunteers, from preschoolers to octogenarians, set up 425 flags at Tisbury's Oak Grove Cemetery. Morning clouds gave way to sun at 9:30 am when a parade stepped off from American Legion Post #257, across from the Tisbury School.

Police, fire, and ambulance personnel from Chilmark, Edgartown, Oak Bluffs, and Tisbury took part, as did members of the Dukes County Sheriff's department. Brownies, Girl Scouts, and Boy Scouts also marched in the parade, along with Tisbury selectmen Tristan Israel and Jeff Kristal.

At the parade's end at Oak Grove Cemetery, about 250 people gathered for a ceremony at the Avenue of Flags memorial. Natalie Wood, a seasonal visitor, sang the National Anthem and Girl Scout Megan Mendez led the Pledge of Allegiance. Oak Bluffs police officer and chaplain David Berube offered a prayer.

Mike Magaraci gives daughter Sania a bird's-eye view while making a hot dog run. Photo by Ralph Stewart

Guest speaker Col. Anthony E. Schiavi, commander of the 102nd Intelligence Wing at Otis Air National Guard Base, reminded everyone of Memorial Day's meaning.

"President Franklin Roosevelt said, 'Those who have long enjoyed such privileges as we enjoy, forget in time that men have died to win them,'" said Colonel Schiavi. "With the hectic lives we lead today, it might be easy to think of Memorial Day as merely a three-day weekend."

It is much more than that, he added. "It is a time for our Nation to reflect, to remember and honor the airmen, soldiers, sailors, Marines, Coast Guardsmen, Merchant Mariners, and civilians, who made the ultimate sacrifice defending or supporting our great country, its interests and its ideals," the colonel said.

At 10 am he paused in his remarks for a flyover by a Blackhawk UH-60 helicopter out of Camp Edwards, piloted by CW5 James McCabe of the Army National Guard. Tony Peak played "Amazing Grace" on the bagpipes following Colonel Schiavi's speech.

Veterans Jamie Craig and Fred "Ted" Morgan, Tisbury Fire Capt. Mike Carroll, Renee Ortiz, widow of Sgt. John Grimmett, and Linda Voluckas, president of the legion's Ladies Auxiliary, placed wreaths at the Avenue of Flags memorial to commemorate those who died in World War I, World War II, Korea and Vietnam and on Sept. 11, 2001.

Early arrivals staked out the prime spots at Tisbury's Island-wide Memorial Day picnic. Photo by Ralph Stewart

Post #257 Commander Kevan Nichols, joined by granddaughter Aileen Mahoney, laid a wreath at the cemetery's Civil War Monument.

Then everyone returned to the legion post for the dedication of a new memorial honoring Merchant Mariners who served in WWII.

At Tisbury's Memorial Day picnic on Monday afternoon, the estimated crowd of 300 was one of the biggest ever, organizers said. "We're delighted," said picnic committee member Patricia Carlet. "It's nice to have this event for everybody on the Island." Tisbury expanded the picnic to an Island-wide celebration in 2006.

A maze of blankets and folding chairs covered the grounds at the Tisbury Water Works, where everyone could admire the town's restoration of the historic 1887 Tashmoo Spring Building's exterior, almost complete after three years.

The fragrance of lilacs mixed with the aroma of hamburgers and hot dogs sizzling on the grill. Children lined up for pony and rowboat rides, using the wait time to enjoy free ice cream provided by the picnic committee.

The Flying Elbows performed their signature bluegrass music. Trading his gavel for a guitar, Tisbury selectman Tristan Israel also provided some music and song.

This year's event honored Lincoln "Linc" Hanson, who served for many years as a town picnic committee member and grill master. State Rep. Timothy Madden, who made a surprise visit to the picnic, presented a framed poster to Mr. Hanson in recognition of his contributions over the last 15 years.

As usual, the picnic provided a post-winter and pre-summer opportunity for Islanders to reunite with local and seasonal friends, such as Jody Sherman of Richmond, Va., Loretta May of Oak Bluffs, and Philisse Barrows of Vineyard Haven.

Ms. Sherman, who will work this summer as a beach attendant for the Land Bank Commission, summed up a sentiment expressed by many picnic-goers. "It could be a Norman Rockwell painting," she said. "It's just the perfect Memorial Day scene."

James Cleary (right) and his 7th grade classmates at the Edgartown School gather flowers to toss into the harbor at Memorial Wharf. Photo by Susan Safford

Island schools held their holiday observances last Friday. A special assembly at the Oak Bluffs School included veterans as guest speakers.

The Edgartown and Tisbury schools held traditional marches to the sea to throw flowers into the harbors in memory of those who died in war.

Edgartown School's Eagle Band provided patriotic music for the march. Seventh graders recited the poem "In Flanders Fields," and eighth graders presented Pres. Abraham Lincoln's "Gettysburg Address." WWII veteran Fred "Ted" Morgan was the guest speaker.

In Vineyard Haven, students, teachers, and administrators stepped off for their traditional March to the Sea from Tisbury School to Owen Park at 12:30 pm. Eighth graders Fionnuala Howell and Annabelle Hackney, who carried the Tisbury School banner, and flag-bearers Cord Bailey and Dana Jacobs led the parade to the beat of the school band's lively marching music.

Sophie Ulyatt, grade 7, pauses in remembrance at the water's edge during Edgartown School's March to the Sea.

After reaching the dock at Owen Park and scattering flowers in the harbor, students joined their parents, community members, and town officials for a ceremony around the park's flagpole.

Fifth-grade buglers Ellie O'Callaghan, Zach Stevenson, Ben Davey, and Dayanna Middleton and eighth grader Gabby Silva played taps. Maggie Riseborough, also an eighth grader, sang the National Anthem a cappella.

Eighth-graders Marc Natichioni and Dylan Brockmeyer explained the meaning of the school's tradition and introduced guest speakers Jo Ann Murphy, Veterans Services Officer, and Mev Good, a WWII veteran who served in the U.S. Army's 10th Mountain Division.

Mr. Good closed his remarks by reminding everyone, "Always keep Memorial Day in your heart."