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Date: 6/7/2023
WARE — The Memorial Day program at Quabbin Park Cemetery was the effort of many hands, from veterans and businesses to the local Boy and Girl Scout troops, providing a reminder of what this day is about.
The program started at 10:45 a.m. for the march to the commemoration grounds. The order of the march was the Belchertown American Legion Post 239 and auxiliary, Belchertown Veterans Council, Ware AMVETS 2577, Marine Crops League Detachment, Ware Scouts BSA Troop 7281, Ware Cub Scout Pack 520, local historical societies, families involved with the placing of the wreaths and the buglers along with drummer Alannah Lavoie.
Cub Scout Pack 520 led the Pledge of Allegiance, Cordelia Grandinetti gave a reading of the Gettysburg address, and the placing of the wreaths ceremony commenced.
Families representing some of the towns used to create the Quabbin Reservoir and the cemetery’s Schmidt bench were all part of this ceremony. Representing the town of Dana was the Cooley family, Boyko and Jasnocha families honored Enfield, the Thresher family represented Greenwich, the Currier and Bowen families represented Prescott, and members of the Eleanor Griswold and Schmidt family presented for the Schmidt bench.
The Belchertown Community Band provided patriotic tunes masterfully even though they claimed they had not even had one practice prior, and volunteer organizer Keith Poulin kept the ceremony on track.
In a salute to the honored dead, taps was played by buglers Carter Masse and Braeden Meighan, and Belchertown Director of Veterans’ Services Charley Oliva gave a recitation of “In Flanders Fields”
State Sens. Anne Gobi (D-Spencer) and Jake Oliveira (D-Ludlow), and state Reps. Aaron Saunders (D-Belchertown), and Todd Smola (R-Warren) all presented comments to commemorate the day of honor and remembrance.
The local community pitched in to make this event possible. Among others, Florence Savings Bank and Country Bank for funding refreshments, the Department of Conservation and Recreation staff for the well-maintained cemetery grounds, Charley Oliva for wreath donations, Belchertown TV for the use of their sound system, Paul Davis for repairing signs and damaged posts prior to the event, and Kim Turner for acquiring funding for the planting of annual flowers and greenery.