KENT, Conn.—A cold and gloomy May released its grip on Northwest Connecticut Monday, providing a picture-perfect day on which to commemoriate the heroism and sacrifices of the nation’s veterans.
Townspeople responded enthusiastically, emerging from their homes to line the streets, waving flags handed out by the Lions Club and cheering on a hometown parade right out of a Norman Rockwell painting.
As is traditional, the parade began on Elizabeth Street and marched up Route 341, where it paused while an honor guard fired volleys over the graves of veterans in St. Andrew’s Cemetery. The procession then waited at the Civil War Memorial while the honor guard formed once more at the Veterans Memorial on Maple Street for another volley.
Then it was on up Main Street to the Kent Memorial Library, one of many the libraries constructed in the years following World War I to commemorate the service of Kent lads who “crossed the pond” to help end the horrific bloodshed Europe endured during World War I.
Sixty-seven residents were called to service during that war and three made the ultimate sacrifice. The names of all 67 are included on a plaque that sits above the fireplace in the library’ Reading Room. The plaque was sculpted by artist William Paddock and was given to the library upon its opening in 1925.
At the library, First Selectman Marty Lindenmayer welcomed the marchers and those watching the parade. Before reading the names of Kent men who have died in service to the country since the Civil War, he said the town was gathered to “honor and memorialize” them.
“Think about the service these individuals gave,” he urged, “and when you go to the community picnic, talk about these names and those who serve today—not just those from Kent, but across the country.”
The Rev. John D. Heeckt gave the benediction, saying the day helps us to remember the horror and sacrifice of war, but “even more to be inspired by their example.”
The parade reached its destination at the First Congregational Church where the honor guard fired a final volley in the cemetery and the Lions Club handed out ice cream to marchers.
Kent soldiers who died in service:
Civil War:
Charles Herman Segar, William Barton, Almeron Burton, George H. McBrirney, Roderick Fitch
World War I:
Harold Hall, Abraham Burhance, Frank Kinney
World War II:
Donald Jennings, Russell Chase, Frank Chase, Leo Skalski, Henry Young
Korean War:
John Olson
Vietnam War:
Norman Stoddard, Jr., Ivory Winship, Jr.
I think it is a colossal gaffe that the Kent Center School band was not even mentioned or photographed, as they are a huge part of the parade and their teacher, Mr. Poirier, works with them for weeks on not only the music but marching as well. Two students played Taps beautifully and respectfully at five different locations, and an 8th grade student read the Gettysburg address. They are a highlight of the parade and it’s a shame that if someone read this article, they wouldn’t even know the KCS Band was there.