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Pelham~Windham

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Volume 7 Number 47 June 4, 2010 16 Pages

Pelham Remembers its Fallen on Memorial Day

by Jay Hobson

A slight haze and the scent of smoke from wild fires in Canada wafted south through New Hampshire and filled the air, creating mental images of battlefields of the past as residents came to honor their friends and loved ones that have fallen on battlefields around the globe. The Veterans of Foreign Wars held a wreath laying ceremony at Veterans Memorial Park. This year is the 25th anniversary of the dedication of the park. A small field, as parks go, it is still a fitting memorial to those soldiers who went and never returned. Shrub- flanked and made of fieldstone with engraved granite in its center honoring the sacrifices of the fallen with a flagpole rising behind, the flag fluttered at half- staff in the morning sun. Later, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Cubs,

Gold Star Mom Denise Gionet, mother of Army Medic Sergeant Daniel Gionet, who died in Iraq in June 2006, is escorted to the memorial

Brownies, politicians, firefighters, police officers, and residents would march quietly and respectfully from town hall to Gibson Cemetery—a single drum and flute being the only musical

accompaniment. The marchers encircled the monument at the end of a tree-lined avenue

– a flagpole and granite monument surrounded by five benches, one for each branch of the military – to hear the

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Te parade leaves Gibson Cemetery and marches to the American Legion Post for the traditional town cookout

speeches and witness the wreaths being laid by young representatives of the Boy and Girl Scouts. The unified crack of rifle fire done three times in quick succession in honor of the fallen soldiers caused some small children to cry and adults to wipe away tears of a different kind. With prayers, accolades, reminiscences, and remembrances of bravery, one thing is certain: Pelham will never forget her fallen citizens.

Te VFW Honor Guard fires a triple volley in honor of fallen comrades

Te Memorial Day parade began at the town hall, and marchers included the Girl Scouts

Veterans’ memorial at VFW Park honors the fallen. Note the date of its dedication—25 years ago this year

Windham Memorial Day Parade

Windham residents celebrated Memorial Day for the noble and sacred reason it was intended—to honor those who paid for Americans’ freedom with their lives. On a beautiful Monday morning on May 31 at 9:30 a.m., the

Windham Memorial Day parade began at Center School for the march to the Cemetery on the Plains. The Windham American Legion led the parade going down South

Lowell Road, to Cobbetts Pond Road, and to Ministerial Road, ending at the Veterans Lot on the Cemetery on the Plains, where veterans of the military services who have gone before us were honored.

Leading the bands marching in the Windham parade was the Salem High School band. Also marching were the Windham Center School and Windham Middle School bands. Windham’s many Girl and Boy Scout troops were well represented.

At the conclusion of the parade and ceremonies, the Windham American Legion provided ice cream for attendees.

Windham American Legion Color Guard at the head of the parade column One of the many troops of scouts representing the future of our country

Windham Center School students march, showing the great potential of future Windham High School’s marching band program

Te Windham Middle School band marches ahead of the emergency service vehicles

Windham Students Donate Locks

Niki Kuchipudi prepares for the cut Niki Kuchipudi, Kyana Baiguy, Amy Caron, Kayla Allard, and Jillian DiPersio Jillian DiPersio before and after

A group of students from Windham Middle School do- nated their long hair to Locks of Love or Pantene Beauti- ful Lengths, which are programs that accept donations of hair for wigs for cancer patients. Locks of Love requires a full 10 inches of hair to make the wigs, while Pantene requires a still-lengthy eight inches. Seventh grader Jillian DiPersio facilatated the event in conjunction with the Soleil Salon and Spa.

staff photos by Jay Hobson

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