Memorial Day
By Jim Heavey
Memorial Day is the unofficial start of Summer, but it’s important to remember the origins of this solemn remembrance; to remember and honor those who perished in war defending the United States. While we appreciate everyone who has served in uniform, Memorial Day should not be confused with Veterans Day (November 11th).
If you visit Greenwich Town Hall, you can see the names of every service member from town who lost his life in the service of our country. The names on the wall do not just represent a fallen service member, but also the proud sacrifice of their family and their hometown.
One quiet but important tradition in Greenwich, led by the American Legion Post 29, is the placement of small US flags on the graves of all departed Veterans in our local cemeteries the week before Memorial Day. What is especially poignant about this tradition is that the flags are placed by our local Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts.
I would especially like to remember two Greenwich Police Officers who gave their lives while serving in WWII.
Police Officer Bernard McGillian, a young, popular rookie officer hired in January of 1943, left Greenwich to serve in the US Army Air Corps as a Sergeant and was killed in action in the Pacific on June 5th, 1945 when his B-29 aircraft failed to return after a mission over Japan.
Police Captain John Trufel, who was appointed to the Greenwich Police Department on June of 1926 and served many years as the commander of the detective division, joined the US Army at age 42 and was killed on May 8, 1945, in Germany on the very day of Victory Day in Europe (VE Day) while serving as US Army First Lieutenant.
My Memorial Day Challenge to you is to spend some quality time with friends and family, but also to participate in one of the many Memorial Day activities that occur in Greenwich over the holiday weekend:
Saturday, May 29th
10:00 AM – Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 101012 ceremony
Sunday, May 30
2:00 PM – Byram Veterans Parade and Ceremony.
5:00 PM – Glenville Volunteer Fire Company & 9th District Veterans Parade and Ceremony
Monday, May 31
8:00 AM – American Legion Post 29 wreath-laying and ceremony at Indian Harbor Yacht Club
10:00 AM – Sound Beach Volunteer Fire Dept. Memorial Day Parade on Sound Beach Ave.
10:00 AM – Byram Memorial Day Ceremony at Eugene Morlot Veterans Memorial Grove
Far Away
From all they know,
With hearts of pride
And courage true,
Vowed to serve
As freedom’s fight,
And through their strength
Our nation’s might,
They gave all
Our brave defenders
Where poppies lie,
We will remember
Author unknown
