KENT, Conn.—On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918, the guns fell silent over battlefields as World War I—the war to end all wars,”—came to its bloody conclusion.
Wednesday, Kent paused to commemorate that event, and to honor the veterans of all the wars Americans have fought in in a short ceremony in front of the Veterans Monument on Route 341.
The annual ceremony convened at 11 a.m., as is traditional, and drew stalwarts to honor the memory of those who served the nation. Among them were Kathleen and Martin “Marty” Lindenmayer, retired Naval officers who cumulatively served the country for 49 years. They returned to Kathleen Lindenmayer’s hometown following retirement, where they have continued their tradition of service in community affairs.
“I’m a retired Navy captain, and I served from 1984 to 2010,” Kathleen Lindenmayer said. “I was an intelligence officer. Marty was also in the Navy, and we traveled all over the world. My husband has been to 135 countries, I think, and I’ve seen a lot, too.”
She said returning to the U.S. for good, after so many years away from it, was a great gift. “It made us grateful for our country, to be an American, when we came home,” she said. “We served proudly, and we still do.
“The world is really a small place,” she said. “But when you travel and then come home, you see the bigger picture. It shows how important it is to serve, and we’re happy to do it.”
Others waiting for the event to begin were veteran U.S. Army Sgt. Brent Kallstrom, commander of Halls-Jennings American Legion Post 153; U.S. Air Force veteran Michael Van Valkenburg; U.S. Marine Corps veterans Jim Hart, Richard Barber and Bill Case, and U.S. Army veteran Rusty Jennings.
“We’ve got a good turnout already,” Kallstrom said, as he watched members of the honor guard prepare for the salute. Taps would follow on the bagpipes, he said.
The ceremony started, and the Lindenmayers joined the small gathering to listen and remember. They were joined by neighbors and friends, who stood in a line in front of the memorial.
After prayers by Fr. Richard Clark from St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church and the Rev. John Heeckt of the First Congregational Church, First Selectmen Eric Epstein thanked veterans for their service.
“We honor the great men and women who have served,” he said. “Our monuments are more than just names; they are the families, neighbors and friends (of the community). “Thank you … We are forever grateful.”
Kallstrom also read a brief history of the Nov. 11, 1918, ceremony, recalling the armistice that was signed at 11 a.m.
The ceremony concluded with an invitation from St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church to come to the parish hall for lunch. As the tables filled inside the hall, church members prepared plates of food that were passed by other members dressed in blue and white aprons. The luncheon is a tradition the church has held for a number of years.
