Hamptons’ Post #35 Keeps The Vigil On The Seacoast

Hundreds of thousands of our World War II Veterans will gather in our nation’s capital this Memorial Day as a grateful nation pays homage to the WW II generation. The unveiling of the long-awaited World War II Memorial will host Veterans from all over the country.

Hamptons Post #35 will honor our members here on the Seacoast as well. Several WW II members of Post #35 will make the long trek to Washington, DC to partake in the festivities. Among them are Ken Buell, Ted Kopanski, John McInnis and Ansell Palmer. It has been said that the WW II generation was the last great generation of our nation. It seems to be a long overdue fitting tribute to these true American heroes.

Meanwhile, our nation’s newest generation of Veterans, the “War on Terrorism Vets,” will be equally honored here on the Seacoast this Memorial Day as we pay respect and honor to our nation’s fallen heroes. We ask that all citizens come out this Memorial Day to pay the respect that these fallen heroes deserve.

No matter what political party you belong to, we need to come together on this sacred day and honor the brave Americans who gave their lives for freedom, and to once again acknowledge those who are in harm’s way. Our fight against terrorism is ongoing and the troops need our support.

There are several families from the Seacoast who have loved ones overseas. Remember our battle cry: “Post 35 remembers September 11.” Let us all stand up and support our troops — these brave young men and women. They’ve earned it.

Hamptons Post #35 will honor WW II Veterans this Memorial Day as well as “War on Terrorism” Veterans by conducting Memorial Day exercises in three area towns on Monday, May 31. Beginning at 8 a.m., there will be a service at the New Hampshire Marine Memorial (“The Lady by the Sea”) on Ocean Boulevard, across from the Ashworth-By-The Sea, Hampton Beach.

Following this service, there will be a ceremony in Hampton Falls at Weare’s Common beginning at 9 a.m. At 10 a.m., there will be a Memorial Day parade in North Hampton beginning in the parking lot of the Citizen’s Bank on Lafayette Road and continuing down Atlantic Avenue to the town’s public library for the ceremony.

In Hampton, a parade will begin at 11 a.m. in the town parking lot behind the Fire Station #2 and the district court house on Winnacunnet Road, and will travel west along Winnacunnet Road to Lafayette Road, north to High Street to the High Street Cemetery, where the Memorial Day program will be held in the Memorial Section at the flag pole.

The guest speaker will be Lt. Col. Timothy Bailey, USMC, and a recent recipient of the Bronze Star while serving in Afghanistan. Also, special guests will be brothers Don and Alan Bishop, who served together in WW II on Guadalcanal in the South Pacific. The local community is invited, and encouraged, to attend any or all of these ceremonies.

“For those who fought for it, freedom has a taste the protected will never know.” — Author unknown, found written on an ammo crate at Khe Sanh, RVN 1968.)