Vietnam vet delivers moving words in Cornwall

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.