Cheshire's Annual Memorial Day Wreath-Laying Ceremony Set for May 23

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Cheshire’s annual Memorial Day wreath-laying ceremony honoring the men and women who died in America’s armed forces will be held on the Church Green on Saturday, May 23 at 10 a.m. The ceremony is sponsored by the Cheshire Veterans Council, which consists of American Legion Post 92, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10052, Army Air Force Round Table and AmVets.

The ceremony also prepares the Church Green and Veterans Memorial Plaza in front of Town Hall for the annual Memorial Day Parade the next day. The parade stops at Veterans Memorial Plaza while a brief ceremony is performed and “Taps” is played.

This year’s speakers include Cheshire residents Irvin Daubert and Justin Nash, and Hamden resident Jason Burke. Daubert, an Army Air Force World War Two veteran, will speak about flying into combat in a B-24 bomber. Nash, a West Point graduate and former U.S. Army Captain, will describe his effort to help recent veterans succeed in their post-military careers. Burke, a retired Navy Captain pilot with combat experience, will offer his thoughts about Memorial Day.

Cheshire Town Councilman Tim Slocum will convey greetings on behalf of the town.

A parade of color guards—veterans, the Police and Fire Departments, and Girl and Boy Scouts—will open the ceremony. Eagle Scout Charles Housemann of Troop 192 will lead the audience in saying the Pledge of Allegiance. Rev. John Williams of Church of the Epiphanywill offer the Invocation and Benediction. A wreath will be placed at the Civil War monument. Members of the Cheshire High School VIP Chorus will sing the National Anthem and “America, the Beautiful.” The ceremony will last about half an hour.

Afterward, Pvt. Lester Rochford VFW Post 10052 will give free cemetery flags to anyone present.

Memorial Day was originally Decoration Day, an occasion when veterans, townspeople and children marched in parade to cemeteries to decorate the graves of soldiers with spring flowers. It began after the Civil War and spread across the nation, becoming a national holiday. Later it was extended to honor all U.S. war dead. In 1971 Congress designated it as Memorial Day and fixed the date as the last Monday in May.

Last year’s ceremony drew about 200 people. The Cheshire Veterans Council hopes for an even larger audience this year, and urges the public to attend.