Plympton and Halifax joined cities and towns throughout the country showing their red, white, and blue stars and stripes with ceremonies, parades, and moments of quiet reflection.
Plympton’s parade showcased its fire trucks, including the fully restored 1938 Buffalo driven by resident Don Vautrinot.
It was Plympton’s turn to host the Silver Lake Regional High School’s Marching Band, and they played the standards well, rousing the onlookers. Selectmen, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and horses, all took their places as they marched from the Historical Society Building.
The parade culminated at the Town Green where selectmen led the hundreds gathered there in prayer and the salute to the flag.
Dennett School students took part. Lillian Rankin recited the Gettysburg Address from memory, Brianna Crowley narrated the poem “In Flanders Field”, and Brianna Barrow read her essay, “What Memorial Day means to me.”
Doris Silva, the Boston Post Cane recipient as Plympton’s oldest citizen at 102 was presented flowers by Briggette Martins, secretary to the selectmen and a member of the parade committee. Doris is also a veteran of the Coast Guard.
The Halifax parade stepped off at 9:30 a.m. from the Halifax Country Club, with Parade Marshal WWII Iwo Jima veteran Jim Gargiola being driven by Korean War veteran Edgar Bent in a fully restored Model T Ford. Walking alongside were members of the Halifax VFW Post 6258.
Following were Boy Scouts Troop 39, Girl Scouts, a Generations Float, courtesy of Nessralla Farms, and marchers from A Dancer’s World who danced their way down Route 106 to the Halifax Town Hall.
At the 10 a.m. ceremonies, Steve Littlefield, Asst. Veterans’ Agent, gave opening remarks. Parade Marshal Jim Gargiola read “The Ragged Old Flag”, and Rev. Dr. William Wildman of the Halifax Congregational Church gave the invocation.
The placing of the memorial wreaths was done by the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Boy Scouts, Wil Corey, Veterans’ Service Officer, Steve Littlefield, Asst. Veterans’ Agent, and the Board of Selectmen.