Memorial Day in Salisbury : A town remembers

SALISBURY — It seemed the entire town turned out for the Memorial Day parade and service. Those marching in the parade began to gather on the lawn in front of the Scoville Memorial Library around 9 a.m., where the Friends of Scoville Library were selling lemonade, coffee and doughnuts.

The parade kicked off at 10 a.m., with veterans riding in vintage cars, puttering along in golf carts and marching down Main Street. They were followed by volunteers from the Lakeville Hose Company and Salisbury Volunteer Ambulance Service, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, the Salisbury Band, the Salisbury Central School band and Salisbury youth hockey players.

As the parade passed, spectators fell into line and moved along to the cemetery, where master of ceremonies James Brazee began the service. The Rev. Steve Austin of Salisbury Congregational Church offered the invocation.

Salisbury Central School student Caleigh Burchfield recited the Gettysburg Address without mistakes or hesitation. (For a video of the recitation, visit tcextra.com and click on Terry Cowgill’s blog.)

The Salisbury Band was there, dressed up in spruce summer outfits, and played “God of our Fathers.â€

As a color guard stood at attention, Brazee read the names of Salisbury residents who died in service to the United States. A gun salute followed and then Russel Allyn and Steve Pickert played “Taps.â€

The Rev. John Carter of St. John’s Episcopal Church joined Austin in a prayer. The band played the national anthem and Carter gave the benediction.

Brazee took the microphone again at that point.

“Normally we would be done now, but we have a few more things to take care of,†he said.

He then presented Bill Genito, a veteran of the Marines, with a certificate in honor of his 60 years of service to the American Legion, calling him “an outstanding contributor.â€

Brazee then paid tribute to Avis Jones, who died this year. For years she made the memorial wreath used during the services. She was herself a veteran, having served in the Navy from 1943 to 1946.

“She was a true patriot,†Brazee said.

He also thanked Pickert, who has played “Taps†at the service for 40 years. Pickert is moving out of Salisbury.

After the service, the crowd headed back to the Green in front of The White Hart for an ice cream social sponsored by the Salisbury Visiting Nurse Association.