BRATTLEBORO — I would like to thank the following veterans' groups who participated in Memorial Day services in Brattleboro on May 31: American Legion Post 5, the American Legion Post 5 Band, the color guard and members of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1034, the Marine Corps League, the American Legion Rifle Squad and Buglers and the Auxiliary Units of the American Legion, VFW and the Marine Corps League.
These groups visited St. Michael's, Prospect Hill and Locust Ridge cemeteries, where rifle salutes were given and Taps was played, along with the laying of wreaths at the war memorial monuments at each location. These same groups also paid their respects at the Kyle Gilbert Memorial and Veteran's Memorial bridges.
At the Common on Park Place, these same ceremonies again took place. Matthew Dunn, an 11th-grader at Brattleboro Union High School and the son of Mr. and Mrs. David Dunn of Brattleboro, was the featured speaker. Matthew, who is also a candidate for Post 5's representative at Boy's State later this month, made us aware that he and other students have a knowledge of the great sacrifices that veterans have made in past wars for the safety of those at home.
Over the past few months, Post 5, the VFW, the Marine Corps League and their auxiliary units presented the MIA/POW table program to students at St. Michael's, Academy, Green Street, Oak Grove and Vernon Elementary schools. This gave these veterans' groups an opportunity to speak with 1,000 students and staff members and explain the true meaning of the Memorial Day and Veteran's Day holidays. We were very touched by the attention and respect given to these veterans by the students.
Post 5 opened its doors to the public on Memorial Day for a potluck luncheon after the services. The First Student bus company again provided transportation to all the different service locations.
A sincere thank you to everyone involved.