Dartmouth honors Veterans, rain or shine
The cememtary prepared for the ceremony. Photos by Kat Sheridan
The memorial wreath floating in the water. 
A boat floats past to view the ceremony. 
The Dartmouth Police Department performs a gun salute. 
The crowd listens to a member of the Dartmouth Community Band perform "Taps."
The crowd listens to a member of the Dartmouth Community Band perform "Taps."
Members of the Color Guard prepare to toss the wreath. 
The Bancroft-Fairfax family with Cavanaugh and the young Cavollo, age 4.5. 
The Dartmouth Veterans of Foreign War Color Guard. 
Members of the police and fire department salute during "Taps."
The flag is lowered in memory of the 34 veterans lost from Dartmouth. 
The crowd listens to a member of the Dartmouth Community Band perform "Taps."
The Dartmouth Police Department performs a gun salute. 
Robert Mohawald of the Veteran's Affairs office speaks. 
Heidi Silva-Brooks speaks about the importance of Memorial Day. 
The Dartmouth Community Band performed the National Anthem. 
A dog came to watch his owner from the Veteran's Office. 
A grave decorated for Memorial Day.
Dayna and Benjamin (age 4) Kingsland walk into the ceremony.
A member of the police pets a dog at the event.
The cememtary prepared for the ceremony. Photos by Kat Sheridan
The memorial wreath floating in the water.
A boat floats past to view the ceremony.
The Dartmouth Police Department performs a gun salute.
The crowd listens to a member of the Dartmouth Community Band perform "Taps."
The crowd listens to a member of the Dartmouth Community Band perform "Taps."
Members of the Color Guard prepare to toss the wreath.
The Bancroft-Fairfax family with Cavanaugh and the young Cavollo, age 4.5.
The Dartmouth Veterans of Foreign War Color Guard.
Members of the police and fire department salute during "Taps."
The flag is lowered in memory of the 34 veterans lost from Dartmouth.
The crowd listens to a member of the Dartmouth Community Band perform "Taps."
The Dartmouth Police Department performs a gun salute.
Robert Mohawald of the Veteran's Affairs office speaks.
Heidi Silva-Brooks speaks about the importance of Memorial Day.
The Dartmouth Community Band performed the National Anthem.
A dog came to watch his owner from the Veteran's Office.
A grave decorated for Memorial Day.
Dayna and Benjamin (age 4) Kingsland walk into the ceremony.
A member of the police pets a dog at the event.
“Memorial Day asks something important of us, it asks us to pause amid the music, the marching bands, the waving flags and ceremonies, and remember those who never came home,” said Select Board Chair Heidi Silva-Brooks Monday morning.
The rain did not stop Dartmouth from honoring its veterans this Memorial Day, as community members came together for two ceremonies.
Memorial Day was originally Decoration Day, when communities gathered after the Civil War to honor those fallen. After World War I, communities again gathered and the holiday was renamed Memorial Day.
“Throughout our history, thousands of Massachusetts residents have answered the call to serve to defending our nation, our freedoms, and our way of life,” said Veterans Service Officer Matthew Brouillette. “Their courage, sacrifice, and devotion to duty represents the first, the very best of Commonwealth and continue to inspire generations.”
The day started at the South Dartmouth Cemetery, where town officials spoke and the Dartmouth Community Band played.
Jason Ray, with the Veteran’s Advisory Board, named the 34 Dartmouth citizens who died overseas; seven in World War I, 20 in World War II, six in the Vietnam War and one in the Operation Iraqi Freedom Global War.
After the names of those lost were read out, members of the U.S. Army fired five shots. Two members of the Dartmouth Community Band played “Taps,” one close to the crowd and one far away. The flag was then lowered to half staff.
The second ceremony was held at the Padanarm Bridge, where members of the Veterans of Foreign War Color Guard tossed a red, white and blue wreath over into the water.
“This wreath is a symbol of eternity and life everlasting,” said Color Guard member Terry Caton. “Today, the deeds of our departed comrades are immortalized in the hearts of a grateful nation.”
This was followed by six more shots fired by the U.S. Army, and the same members of the band playing “Taps.”
“This year’s observance carries even deeper meaning as our nation prepares to celebrate America’s 250th birthday since the signing of the Declaration of Independence,” said Brooks. “Across the country, communities are reflecting on our nation's history, its ideals, and the generations of Americans who defended them.”
She added, “As we approach this historic milestone, Memorial Day reminds us that the story of America has always been written by ordinary people willing to do extraordinary things for the sake of liberty, duty, and one another.”
