BY ANGELO VELOTTA
Gazette Newspapers
MADISON – “Today, we gather to honor something far greater than ourselves,” and “Approach our differences with respect and not division,” guest speaker retired from the Navy, Kent Welch said.
“As we gather, may our words honor the fallen,” said Pastor Scott Racut.
“The responsibility of remembrance is up to us – the living,” Ryan Wisniowski of American Legion Post 112 said.
These sentiments echoed each other, and throughout Madison Village Square Park on Memorial Day, before a very large crowd.
People lined up and down on both sides of Main Street for the parade that preceded the presentation on a foggy morning, that eventually gave way to sunshine.
The Madison Police Department commenced the parade, and were followed by numerous groups, including: horseback deputies, many veterans, the Madison High School marching band, Madison youth cheer, Madison youth baseball, American Legion members on motorcycles, Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops, Madison flag football, youth football, high school football, Sub Zero Mission, Miss Grapette, the Madison Fire Department, Laketran and the Poppy Princesses.
Deanna Sanford, American Legion Post 112 auxiliary member, spoke of the history of the poppy princesses during the presentation to follow. She shared that during World War I, several soldiers’ graves in both France and Belgium ended up having fields of red poppies that grew over top them.
This became the official adopted flower of the American Legion in 1924, and the creation of the Poppy Princesses was put into action to spread awareness.
This year’s poppy princesses are Peyton Carrier, Nadia and Maeve Polocy.
The national anthem was sung by kids in attendance, while the Blue Streak Marching Band, under the direction of Brett Tomko, played a spirited rendition of ‘The Star-Spangled Banner.’
Pastor Scott Racut of Chapel Hill, Perry UMC spoke and shared prayer, and Ryan Wisniowski and Kent Welch shared powerful words.
Tom Dziak, Sons of the American Legion Post 112, read the 1987 poem by A. Lawerence Vaincourt, “Just A Common Soldier,” under the direction of Ryan Zavoda, Astrape Women’s Assemble sang “America the Beautiful,” and then a wreath was laid on the Soldier’s and Sailor’s Monument by VFW 8548 and American Legion Post 112 auxiliary members. These same honored groups also presented the rifle salute and the returning of the American Flag to full mast. Taps was also played. Mike Evangelista, American Legion Post 112, gave closing thoughts and remarks.
Evangelista also opened the presentation portion of the day. A bagpipe rendition of “Amazing Grace” played by Kathy Wright of American Legion Post 112 closed out the presentation.
