Tribute paid to soldiers and veterans

CORNWALL — Thunderstorms threatened Cornwall’s annual Memorial Day parade but by 9 a.m. the clouds, thunder and rain were drifting away allowing Cornwallians to once again hold their special Memorial Day celebrations.Services were held at different locations around town. The Seaman’s Memorial Service began at 10 a.m. in West Cornwall. A group of Cornwall veterans provided the honor guard. Housatonic Valley Regional High School sophomore Mat Matsudaira played taps. A veteran tossed a memorial wreath into the Houstaonic River from the Covered Bridge. The Rev. G. Scott Cady delivered a memorial prayer.At 11 a.m. the traditional Cornwall Memorial Day parade, led by an honor guard of veterans, kicked off in the town center, passing Town Hall. In keeping with tradition, antique automobiles were part of the parade, including a right-hand drive Triumph Mayflower.To the delight of children and adults alike, the parade included a number of shiny fire apparatus and an ambulance from the Cornwall Volunteer Fire Department.For the first time, the parade included two generations, with one still on active duty. U.S. Army Sergeant Connor O’Shaughnessy joined his grandfather, retired First Sergeant Henry O’Shaughnessy. Connor marched in the honor guard and his grandfather proudly rode in an antique convertible automobile. A benediction was given by the Rev. Mary Gates. Master of Ceremonies Ralph Gold read the honor roll of Cornwall veterans who have passed away since the 2010 parade.Gold presented the Annual VFW Citizenship Award to Thomas J. Hubbard, who was unable to attend the ceremonies.Connor O’Shaughnessy delivered the address. In recounting his ties to Cornwall and the honor of being in the parade with his grandfather, the sergeant said, “I am not here by myself. I am extremely proud to represent all the men and women in the service who gave their lives for our country and those who continue that tradition of service.”The Cornwall Consolidated School band, lead by Alicia Simonetti-Shpur, accompanied the crowd in the singing of “America the Beautiful” and “The Star-Spangled Banner.” The formalities concluded with the playing of taps by Jacob Shpur and Patrick Considine. Festivities continued with the annual carnival and a food tent at the Congregational Church.This article originally indicated Scoville Soule received the VFW Citizenship Award. That award, as indicated above, was given to Thomas J. Hubbard, who was unable to attend the ceremonies. Both Hubbard and Soule are World War II veterans. The 2011 Memorial Day celebration was the first time Cornwall had two speakers, veteran Scoville Soule and U.S. Army Sergeant Connor O’Shaughnessy.