Somber parade highlights Milton's day of remembering the fallen

Stephen Steer plays taps during a ceremony to sailors lost at sea during Milton's Memorial Day observance and parade on Monday. (Lebanon Voice photos)

MILTON - A crowd of about a hundred gathered in Milton on Monday to watch Memorial Day services and a somber parade that marched through the downtown amid a steady, gray drizzle.

The observance began on Steeple Street at the Legion Hall, where the Nute High band performed the National Anthem followed by Nute middle schooler Kylie Williamson's recitation of the Gettysburg Address.

Then Speaker of the Day Dana Wilson, commander of Milton American Legion Post 61, began his keynote address by wondering aloud what some think when remembering the enormous loss of life America's fighting men and women have suffered over the years, more than a million since the birth of this nation.

"People sometimes ask, 'Was it worth it,'" Wilson reflected. "I think you have to ask the men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice. It's up to them."

He then spoke of a soldier in Iraq in 2003 who wrote home to his mom, saying what he was doing was all "part of a greater plan" and that he was at peace with where he was and what he was doing.

The soldier died soon afterward, Wilson noted.

Milton veterans from many wars, including World War II attended and marched in the parade, some in cars, others on foot carrying the colors, their rifles and their pride in their service to our country and reverence to those left behind on the battlefield.

Servicemen parade right as they turn the corner from White Mountain Highway onto Garage Way for an observance in remembrance of sailors lost at sea during Milton's Memorial Day parade on Monday.

The parade marched to the beat of a lone drummer, Stanley
Bank, as it wended its way down Dawson Street to White Mountain Highway and across to Garage Way where the bulk of the parade stopped as the honor guard continued to the middle of the bridge above the dam.

In a heartfelt, solemn tribute to sailors lost at sea, a handful of rose petals were tossed into the water below, followed by the firing of a three-gun salute and echoing "Taps," which were played by Stephen Steer and Dave Barca Jr.

The parade then reformed and marched to Depot Pond Road, then reversed direction and returned to Veterans Park where another ceremony was held and "Taps" played for other branches of the service.

The ceremony and parade ended with its return to the Legion Hall on Steeple Street.

Marshals of the Day included Wilson, Peter Hayward, Commander of VFW Post 8393, Milton; and Fred Guldbrandsen, Commander of VFW Post 7663, Union.