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Warren Stevens fires his musket on Memorial Day.
Tom Brown
CORNWALL — Several ceremonies were held around Cornwall in recognition of Memorial Day.
On Monday morning, beneath vibrant blue skies, services began with a 9 a.m. ceremony at the North Cornwall Cemetery. At 10 a.m., the Seamans Memorial was held in West Cornwall at the covered bridge.
At 11 a.m., the parade marched through Cornwall Village. Stopping at the green, David Cadwell was the master of ceremony as well as the guest speaker.
Cadwell served in the Vietnam War as a medic.
He spoke of the day tragedy struck his unit in the jungle. During a firefight, he said, his squad was struck by artillery. His captain and three others died. He later returned to his platoon where his fellow troops had heard a medic died and expected it to be Cadwell.
“I relive that reunion with my band of brothers every Memorial Day,” Cadwell said. “I stand in front of you all this Memorial Day as someone who has returned from the dead, speaking for those we memorialize today to remind you what is so obvious: It is good to be alive, and even better that we take the time to remind each other.”
He dedicated his speech to his captain, Johnny Ward Jr.
Cadwell said moving to Cornwall 38 years ago helped him take the worst day of his life “and replace it with today, one of the best. Where I got to ride in the parade with the old geezers — I’m sorry, the beloved veterans,” Cadwell said as the crowd laughed. “I got to share my story with my fellow friends and neighbors. And now I’ll make one final request: For you to ask a veteran in your life to tell you their story.”
Cadwell’s full speech and more of Cornwall’s ceremony was uploaded to YouTube by Richard Griggs.
The VFW Citizenship Award was given to Town Clerk Vera Dineen for her years of service to Cornwall.
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Salisbury salutes on Memorial Day
May 28, 2025
The Memorial Day parade turns onto Route 41 toward the cemetery.
Alec Linden
SALISBURY — Throngs of Salisbury residents turned out in the long-awaited late May sunshine to honor fallen soldiers at the 2025 Memorial Day parade for a moment of solemn reflection before heading off to holiday cookouts to celebrate the unofficial start of summer.
The procession began shortly after 10 a.m. at Scoville Memorial Library with only one errant motorist pulling out ahead of the entourage before zooming eastward and out of sight. A soundtrack of applause and barking dogs mingled with the steady rhythm of Salisbury Central School’s marching band as the uniformed Williams-Parsons American Legion Post 70 members led the parade down Main Street.
Several town groups sent members to march in the parade, including the Redhawks hockey team, Salisbury Association, Salisbury Visiting Nurses Association, Volunteer Ambulance Service, Hotchkiss Veterans Club, and Housatonic Child Care Center.
The Salisbury Winter Sports Association’s miniature ski jump float made a reappearance, this year accompanied by an inflatable yeti.
As the march hung a left onto Route 41, spectators uprooted themselves from their viewing positions to follow and gather around the cemetery flagpole for a solemn ceremony helmed by legion member and selectman Christian Williams. The Rev. Heidi Truax offered the invocation, followed by local 7th grader Madeleine Carr’s recital of the Gettysburg Address, whose friends rushed up gushing with congratulations after she finished.
Jerry Baldwin read the Roll of Honored Dead, remembering Salisbury servicemen killed in the First and Second World Wars, Korea, and Vietnam, after which the legion members performed a rifle salute. Lloyd Wallingford’s performance of “God Bless America” and the Salisbury Band’s rendition of the national anthem both sparked audience accompaniment, and Tom Key read the 23rd Psalm.
The Rev. John A. Nelson orated a benediction that impelled the audience to dwell on a more peaceful future with a quote from the prophet Isaiah: “They shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.”
Williams concluded the ceremony by inviting the crowd back to town, where families enjoyed the weather on the White Hart lawn with ice cream sandwiches provided by the Salisbury Association.
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Kent’s citizens express appreciation
May 28, 2025
Kent Center School student Ella Barrett recites the Gettysburg Address at the Civil War monument in Kent during the Memorial Day parade Monday.
Ruth Epstein
KENT — Following tradition, the village streets were lined with spectators as the annual Memorial Day parade came through town Monday morning.
Flags held high, they cheered as veterans, firefighters and school children strutted proudly to honor those who gave their lives for their country.
Several stops were made along the route, at which three rounds of shotgun volleys were made at each, along with the playing of taps by members of the Kent Center School band.
The first stop was at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church cemetery, where the pastor, the Rev. Richard Clark, gave a prayer. Next a group marched to the Veterans’ Memorial. Back to Main Street, many gathered to hear KCS student Ella Barrett read the Gettysburg Address at the Civil War monument A wreath was laid at several sites.
At the Kent Memorial Library, a prayer was recited by First Congregational Church pastor, the Rev. John Heeckt.
In a short presentation, First Selectman Martin Lindenmayer said, “We are here to honor and memorialize those who defended our country.”
He then listed all those from Kent who had lost their lives fighting in the Civil War, World War I, World War II, Korea and Vietnam.
He urged those who were going to the annual Kent Land Trust picnic following the parade to talk about those who gave their last full measure, as well as those who are currently serving around the country.
Bethany Keck sang the National Anthem, receiving loud applause.
The parade then proceeded to the First Congregational Church and ended at the Community House, where the Kent Lions Club passed out ice cream to the young participants.
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Emergency responders march through Falls Village on Memorial Day.
Patrick L. Sullivan
FALLS VILLAGE — People started filtering into downtown Falls Village an hour or so before the Memorial Day parade, which kicked off at 9:45 a.m.
Many brought baked goods to the soon-to-opened Off the Trail Cafe, where Liz and Howie Ives had coffee, lemonade and watermelon salad ready for post-parade refreshments. Liz Ives said the cafe will be officially opened in mid-June.
The parade came through, led by a band of percussion and brass instruments. It featured fire trucks, an ambulance, stilt walkers, classic cars and a couple of horses bringing up the rear.
At the town green, First Selectman Dave Barger greeted the crowd with a prayer.
Selectman Judy Jacobs noted that while Memorial Day is for America’s fallen military, several veterans participated in the parade, including Sandy Rhoades, Sergei Fedorjaczenko, Rou Jensen, Woods Sinclair, Loy Timolat, Eric Carlson, David Boyer, Bosco Schell, Jim Holcomb, Matt Gallagher, Hope Gallagher and Tony Testa.
Both the Gallaghers are Navy veterans. Matt Gallagher said Memorial Day “is about recognizing the cost of the freedoms we often take for granted.” Speaking of those who died, he said “Let us strive to be a nation worthy of their sacrifice.”
The selectmen honored Gail Allyn as Volunteer of the Year, and Dick and Donna Heinz received the Community Service Award.
Katelin Lopes sang the National Anthem a cappella, with the crowd of some 100 joining in.
Barger wrapped it up by saying “We must walk away knowing that these four things support the nation: the learning of the wise, the justice of the great, the prayers of the good, and the valor of the brave.”
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