PERRY – Local residents of all ages lined Main Street late Monday morning to take in the Perry Memorial Day parade, with most of them staying to watch local families and veterans organizations honor those who died in the service of their country.
The parade saw representatives and floats from elected officials, civic organizations, law enforcement, firefighters and rescue workers, and several local businesses pass through the village – many tossing candy to the children eagerly lining Main Street.
Tom Anderson, post commander for the American Legion, detailed the history of the Battles of Lexington and Concord in honor of the United States Semiquincentennial and to honor the first Americans to fall in battle for their newborn nation.
Tensions between the Crown and the Province of Massachusetts Bay had reached a boiling point after years of heavy taxation and military occupation.
The royal governor, Gen. Thomas Gage, received orders from London to aggressively suppress the budding rebellion.
He organized a secret expedition of 700 British regulars to march to Concord. Their primary mission was to find and destroy a colonial militia arms cache.
However, Patriot intelligence networks uncovered the plan.
Prearranged “midnight riders” including Paul Revere, William Dawes and Samuel Prescott galloped through the countryside to sound the alarm. As a result, the approaching Redcoats lost the element of surprise and faced an alerted, armed populace.
After sustaining some losses, the Redcoats engaged in a running battle with local militia units all the way back to Boston, which was then taken under siege.
Jerry Juncker of Perry AMVETS post 1971 offered remarks on the meaning of Memorial Day, set aside to honor the fallen who died in service to their nation.
“Every year I hear people say, ‘Happy Memorial Day,’” he said. “For many of us, those words rang very heavily.”
Memorial Day is a solemn occasion, not a happy one – a day set aside to honor those who should be with their friends, families and loved ones, according to Juncker.
“Instead, their stories ended in service to their country,” he said.
It’s the duty of those who came back and those who were left behind to carry on and honor their memories.
“Their absence is the reason this day exists,” Juncker said. “We carry their legacy with us.”
