Memorial Day Ceremony Organizer Thanks Residents for 'Job Well Done'

Thank You Seacoast Residents:

To the hundreds of seacoast residents from Hampton, Hampton Falls, and North Hampton, who took the time to remember and honor our Nation's fallen on Memorial Day, May 27th, 2013, all of us of American Legion POST 35 thank you.

Please stop me if you've heard this before, but...this was our LARGEST gathering to date. With this my 13th and final year as Commander, I have never seen such a big crowd at all four locations. From the beautiful blue skies, to the bright smiling children. Clearly one of the most inspiring and memorable days ever.

I do want to give a big "OUTSTANDING JOB WELL DONE" shout out to the following people.  

A BIG thanks to all the Veterans who carried Flags and Rifles at all four services.  Jim Djerf, Jim Cushman, Bruce Aquizap, Donnie Walker, John Emery, Joe Kutt,  Allen Hughes,  Chief Stebbins, Paul Caron, Berk Bennet,  Arny Plastridge, Warren White, Paul Fitzgerald, Matt and Butch Kranz. Also thanks to Peter Simmonsfor driving our wounded vets in the JEEP. Thank you Gunny Mike Macdonald for the wreath laying. Thank you Fred Rice and Joe Kuttfor the tolling of the bell to honor the Fallen from each war and conflict. Thanks to  SSGT George Masten USMC and the POST 35 the Rifle squad

A big thanks and job well done to our guest speaker LtCol Michael Antonio USMC Iraq Veteran who spoke at each of the four locations. His speech was both powerful and moving.

A big thanks to all the other Volunteers,  CSM -John Barvenik and his crew Mike Michaud, Billy Bud, Bruce Ingalls, and Don Schaub.

A big thanks to our West Point members, bugler Mark Weatherby,and Drummer Don Trefethlen. Thank you WHS USMC JROTC Color Guard and platoon with MSGT Billy Paulino USMC. The Winnacunnet High School Band under the direction of Tony Cyrus. 

A BIG thanks to ALL The Police and Firefighters from each town.  And all the town officials and State Reps from each town.

Thank you to Elaine Weatherby for another outstanding rendition of our National Anthem. And a big thanks to Reverend Michelle Bagby Allan and Pastor Ken Lawrence, Pastor Tim Lewis , and our ownJohn Holman.

A huge JOB WELL DONE to All the school children and surrounding schools who had the most thoughtful and sincere Memorial Day Assemblies during the week.. From Marston to HAHJ, from Lincoln Akerman to North Hampton. A BIG thanks to all the scouts fromHampton Falls, North Hampton and Hampton.  *A special thanks to Troop 177 for flagging the graves of all the veterans in Hampton. 

And finally, all the Veterans from each town, who came out and stood with us at each service. The proud Veterans of the Seacoast. FromWWII, Korea, Vietnam, All of America’s Conflicts and Wars from April 30, 1975 to September 11, 2001, and of course The Global War on Terrorism. *Special thanks to PEARL HARBOR Survivor John Taylor USN. 

If we left anybody out, we are truly sorry. But honestly, Thank you all again, for simply remembering our Nation's Fallen. From the Civil War to The Global War On Terrorism. When people ask if the price of freedom is too high, the answer is always in the smiling faces of all the children on the seacoast. There is your answer.  Respectfully yours,

Ralph G. Fatello
Commander Post 35

69 High Street
Hampton, NH 03842