A time for quiet reflection

SHARON — The crowd was smaller than normal for this year’s Memorial Day celebration and parade, probably because of the storm that thundered through the region at daybreak. But the number of people old and young who took part in the parade and then gathered at the war memorial on Monday morning was still substantial.Veterans, children from Sharon Center School, Scouts, drivers in antique cars lined up along Route 41 shortly before 10 a.m. Volunteer firefighters (neatly attired in their dress uniforms) waited in the parking lot by the bank on the east side of the road, and talked about the structure fire they had fought the night before on Hooperfields Road (no one was hurt). An honor guard of veterans (including First Selectman Bob Loucks, a Navy veteran) led the way as the marchers and cars snaked their way through town and past the Green. An invocation was offered by the Rev. Francis Fador of St. Bernard’s Church. He encouraged everyone to pray for peace and for the safety of the troops.“This new generation follows an unbroken line of good, courageous and unfaltering heroes who have never let their country down.”Loucks was the master of ceremonies. He moved briskly through an agenda that included songs led by Alison Holst-Grubbe and performed by the Sharon Center School band, the Pledge of Allegiance, the playing of taps by student trumpeter Ryan Heacox and student drummer Brian Pedersen, the presentation of the wreath, the reading of names of recently deceased veterans from Sharon and the laying of flowers on the memorial by Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts. The Scouts also helped raise the flag to half mast. Though it was a heavy, humid day, the flag snapped nicely to attention as it ascended the pole.This year’s guest speaker was Dr. Michael Tesoro, who served during the Vietnam War as commander of the department of obstetrics and gynecology at Dover Air Force base in Dover, Del.Dover, he said, “is the Air Force base that received all the bodies of the men and women who died in the Vietnam conflict and that now receives the bodies of those who have died in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.”He described the emotional toll it takes on the soldiers at the base, who are “the nation’s pallbearers, ferrying flag-draped caskets containing the remains of the dead.”“Members of the crew are often found staring at the metallic transfer cases that hold the bodies of the dead soldiers, wondering what kind of people they were ... and sometimes wondering, ‘What if it was my family on the receiving end?’”Memorial Day is not an annual event there, he said. “There are many memorial days.”The winners of this year’s bicycle decorating contest were Russell Sears and Piper Seibold. Both received Eisenhower coin and stamp sets and were allowed to press the remote-control device on Brian Wilcox’s camera. Everyone turned around, faced the Clock Tower, and smiled. Copies of the photo are available at www.connecticutphoto.com. Proceeds will be donated to the playground fund for Sharon Center School.The Sharon Woman’s Club announced that it will take responsibility from now on for replacing the flag at Town Hall. Brian and Theresa Kenny donated the flag this year.