Marblehead remembered its fallen service members this Memorial Day weekend with a veterans breakfast, flag postings at local cemeteries, parade and ceremonies.
Monday started with an 8 a.m. service at Clark’s Landing. At 9 a.m., the parade stepped off from near the Old Town House. The procession — featuring veterans, town leaders, Scouts, the Marblehead High School band and championship hockey team, Glover’s Regiment and more — made its way to Memorial Park for a ceremony and then on to Waterside Cemetery.
Retired four-star Army Gen. David McKiernan delivered the principal address at Memorial Park, emphasizing the importance of remembering service members’ sacrifices.
“Remember those who are not here. Remember sons and daughters who grew up without a father or mother. Families are never the same after the loss of their loved one,” McKiernan said.
Congressman Seth Moulton provided reflections on the true meaning of the occasion.
“This day is not about veterans. It’s not even about the names I’m about to read of veterans who have died in the past year. It’s about those who never made it home from war itself,” Moulton said. “For all of you who come here today, the job to do on Memorial Day is to think about what we can do to prevent Memorial days in the future.”
At Waterside Cemetery, Tom Mathers, a U.S. Army veteran from Marblehead, delivered remarks. Veterans and town officials also laid wreaths at the cemetery in honor of the fallen.
The occasion marked the final Memorial Day organized by Veterans Agent Dave Rodgers, who retires at the end of June.
Here are a few snapshots from the weekend:
CURRENT PHOTO / LEIGH BLANDER
Editor Leigh Blander is an experienced TV, radio and print journalist.
