Around Franklin County on Monday, the sounds of bird songs and the gentle breeze were broken up by the playing of taps and three-volley salutes as communities came together to honor those who gave their lives serving in the United States armed forces.
In Deerfield, Kathy Belanger’s usual Memorial Day routine of getting ready to speak at the town’s ceremony — as she has for more than 15 years after her son, Army Sgt. Gregory Belanger, was killed by IED in Iraq in August 2003 — was delayed when an unannounced guest knocked on her door. When she opened the door, she found Shawn Metz, her son’s “battle buddy,” and his pregnant wife on her doorstep.
“They were so close,” Belanger said after the ceremony. “Not just brothers-in-arms — they could be brothers.”
After explaining her “marvelous surprise” to the crowd of dozens of Deerfield residents, Belanger urged people to reflect on the sacrifices made by soldiers.
“What I want you to do today is, when you go to the cemetery, stand in front of a veteran’s grave for a moment that maybe you don’t know, or maybe someone you do know, and say, ‘Thank you,’” Belanger said. “We would not be sitting here today and having this wonderful Memorial Day, if it wasn’t for the men and women who stood up and paid for the ultimate sacrifice.”
As families and friends gather each year at pools, lakes and beaches, Belanger urged those in attendance to celebrate the day, but also keep soldiers, like her own son, in mind.
“I want you today when you go to your family barbecue, if you have a brewski, because I can tell you, if Greg were here, he’d be having his beer,” she said, “I want you to raise your mug, your can, your wine glass and say, ‘Thank you for my freedom’ — that would honor him today.”
Before Monday’s ceremony, students from Frontier Regional School and Deerfield Academy helped place flags at the graves of veterans in the town’s cemeteries.
In Greenfield, the annual parade returned as police and firetrucks escorted the Greenfield High School marching band, veterans and local organizations including the Boy Scouts and others through the streets of Greenfield.
As the parade progressed, the Scouts handed out American flags to folks on the street, while veterans were tossing candy and dog treats from the seats of their vehicles. Making stops at both the library and Greenfield Common, veterans placed ceremonial wreaths and taps was played before the parade made its final stop at the Veterans Mall on Main Street, where folks packed into the park to listen to remarks made by city officials and veterans.
Mayor Roxann Wedegartner called for residents to remember the sacrifices made by those who died serving the country, but also to not forget those who returned home less than whole.
“I also want us to acknowledge the daily contributions of those of you who returned to live your lives in service to your community, in order to bear witness to the sacrifice of those who died on the battlefield beside you,” she said. “Let’s leave here today with a renewed commitment to honoring our fallen soldiers by finding a common ground with others that helps us sustain, rather than destroy our nation, our community.”
Resident Channing “Joe” Bete Jr. also spoke to the crowd as he talked about his and others’ experience as atomic veterans, who were exposed to radiation in some form or another through their service. Upper Pioneer Valley Veterans’ Services District Director Timothy Niejadlik said these experiences could come from working on the Manhattan Project in World War II, producing nuclear arms during the Cold War, or even during modern operations, such as the U.S. response to the Fukushima, Japan nuclear disaster in 2011.
“We have to live with who we are — many of us came back from serving our country, having left part of us that will always be there on a battlefront, or someplace else,” said Bete, who was exposed to radiation during the Cold War. “We bring that back now as part of our sorrow, but we bring that back as a lesson to be shared for the next generation going forward.”
Chris Larabee can be reached at clarabee@recorder.com or 413-930-4081.