Burial at Sea Remembers Lost Sailors, Soldiers

Portsmouth residents and veterans groups gathered in Prescott Park for a "Burial at Sea" ceremony to honor all of the sailors and soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice in the service of their nation.

The Friday morning ceremony featured the Portsmouth Middle School Band, which played the National Anthem. It also featured a moment of silence to remember all of the Portsmouth men and women who gave their lives during the nation's wars.

Richard Brooks, Adjutant of the Frank E. Booma American Legion Post 6 in Portsmouth, told those gathered they ceremony was held to remember all those who gave their lives so that others can live in peace and freedom here at home.

"They sailed through life's cruise meeting their share of calms and storms, adverse times, unfavorable winds, their ship finally coming to its final anchorage in the harbor still unknown to mortal man," Brooks said. "Many gave their lives in battle that they may leave behind a land still free."

Brooks also said the men and women who gave their lives in the defense of the United State of America guide those living today with their example to help defend the country so it will remain a land of liberty and freedom for future generations.

"As the years roll on, one by one, we end our cruise. The anchor is dropped to rise from the water no more. Though our heads are bowed in sorrow for the loss of our shipmates and comrades, there is pride in our hearts for the many things they did to keep the record of our country untarnished and undefeated," Brooks said.

Carl Walton, commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 168 in Portsmouth, and the Rev. Deborah DeMurs, chaplain of the American Legion Post 6 and the Central Veterans Council, dropped a bouquet of flowers into the Piscataqua River to remember those lost to the nation's wars.

The ceremony then moved to the Ensign Hovey water fountain in Prescott Park where the crowd gathered to remember Navy Ensign Charles Emerson Hovey, who died in the Philippines on Sept. 24, 1911, after a detachment he led from the USS Pampanga was ambushed by the outlaw Moros.

Walton and DeMurs placed a red carnation in the fountain to honor Hovey's memory.