VFW Memorial Service Commemorates The Tragedies Of War

By Nancy K. Crevier

Close to 100 people disregarded their own comfort Monday morning, May 28. They turned out to the annual Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 308 Memorial Day service on the grounds of the VFW Club off of Tinkerfield Road, in nearly 90 degree heat, to honor the servicemen and women who have endured far more discomfort, or even death, in service to our country.

Veterans, friends, and family visited quietly prior to the start of the 11 am event, some sharing stories of their time in service, and others remembering those who served and did not make it back from war. At a small table decorated with American Flags, Laurie McCollum, Sandy Hook resident and mother of Iraq veteran Ryan McCollum, collected names of veterans not previously listed on plaques at Edmond Town Hall, whose home of record is Newtown, to be included in a mural to be painted by Southbury artist David Merrill in the new Newtown Municipal Center at Fairfield Hills.

Richard Andrews, Sr, was one of a few World War II veterans in attendance on Monday. A former POW, Mr Andrews said that he and his wife Louise had attended at least 20 previous VFW Memorial Day services, and found it to be a very nice service.

Tom Gates, also a veteran of World War II, and his wife Barbara attended, as well. Mr Gates served stateside in the Army Air Force. They recalled Mr Gates’ brother, Beecher, who lost his life fighting in Germany during that war. Camp Beecher Gates, located on the border of Germany and the former Czechoslovakia, is named in his honor, said Mrs Gates. “He wiped out a nest of the enemy in Germany. He did it, but he died doing so,” she said. She was also there to honor the memory of her brother, Marshall Frizzel, she said, who died in Vietnam.

Offering words of thanks to those in attendance, former Post Commander Don Monckton then introduced the guest speaker, Newtown First Selectman Pat Llodra. Noting that more than one million Americans have given their lives in duty to this country since the Civil War, which alone claimed 623,000 lives, and that 2.2 million service people have seen active duty in the past decade, Mrs Llodra emphasized the importance of the day set aside to honor and respect “those who protect our liberties.”

She encouraged everyone to pause from holiday activities at 3 pm that afternoon and reflect on those who have died in wars fought for America’s freedom.

The tragedy of war extends beyond death, she reminded those present. “Many struggle to regain a normal life” upon return from service, said Mrs Llodra. Despite the fact that many Americans find the wars we are fighting to be unpopular and that confusion exists over the reasons why these wars are fought, American servicemen and women continue to engage in bloody conflicts and to do what they must do, without question. “They fight on, every day,” she said.

“Our obligation is to reach out to those who serve us. Lend a helping hand whenever and wherever you can,” she urged.

Even though “Our wars are far away from our consciousness,” Mrs Llodra praised those present, saying that their participation in the Memorial Day event showed her that many know that it is imperative to remember the fallen and those still in service.

“Let us not forget the true meaning of Memorial Day. By honoring the war dead, we preserve their memories,” said Mr Monckton, following Mrs Llodra’s speech. He then invited members of the audience to share the names of fallen comrades and family members.

“Remember the first casualty of Operation Breaking Dawn, Gebrah P. Noonan,” requested a family friend. Army Pfc Noonan, of Watertown, died September 24, 2010, in Fallujah, Iraq.

“There are so many names,” recalled Roy Arvidson, including that of his brother. “May God look upon them favorably. God bless America. I’d do it all over again,” said the Vietnam veteran.

A visibly moved Brady Miller, specialist in the US Army reserves, recalled his first CEO, Staff Sgt Owens, who returned safely from Iraq, only to succumb to a heart attack.

“Butch Grant died in Vietnam, just short of going home,” said Marilyn Alexander. “He was like a kid brother to me and my husband,” she added.

Many asked only for thoughts and prayers. 

“In the words of [former President, the late] Ronald Reagan,” Don Monckton continued, “Freedom is a fragile thing. It is never more than a generation away from extinction.”

He thanked those at the service, saying that the soldiers who died “Gave up more than the life they were living. The gave up the life they could have lived, so that we could live our daily lives, free from tyranny.”

Mr Monckton also acknowledged, as had Mrs Llodra, that as important as it is to honor those who paid with their lives, it is also important to remember those who have died of “unseen wounds,” or who suffer upon return from war.

“Our Constitution guarantees freedom,” he said. “Let us never forget those who preserve our freedom.”

The service also included a gun salute and a tribute to soldiers whose remains lie in foreign grounds. A commemorative gravestone on the grounds of the VFW states, “Comrades in the silent land beyond, wherever your mortal remains may rest, there the ground is hallowed.”

One by one, members of the VFW and VFW auxiliary came forward to lay a wreath and flowers at that grave stone, symbolizing the virtues of the fallen soldiers.

Silence fell over the group gathered outside the VFW Club, as the plaintive notes of “Taps” soared from the bugle of Private Michael Lapera, US Army reserves.

In closing, Mr Monckton asked that to pay tribute, each person present commit to two things that day: to visit the gravesite of fallen soldiers, and to reach out and shake the hand of a veteran.

“Tell them you care, tell them you are grateful,” he urged, “and tell them you are in awe.”

For more photographs of the VFW Memorial Day service, see the slideshow at newtownbee.com.