Springfield observes Memorial Day with ceremony

Date: 6/7/2023

SPRINGFIELD — Veterans, city and state officials, and community members gathered on the front steps of Springfield City Hall for a Memorial Day observance ceremony on May 26.

The ceremony began with the presentation of the colors from the Springfield Central Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps and the performance of the national anthem by Melissa Boom.

Veterans Services Department Deputy Director Joe DeCaro said, “Memorial Day is a very somber day for a lot of veterans, a lot of families. That is the day that we remember the military men and women that gave the ultimate sacrifice of their lives for us to be here and have the freedoms and liberties that we use and have on a daily basis.”

Mayor Domenic Sarno thanked everyone for coming, along with U.S. Rep. Richard Neal (D-Springfield). “[Neal] always fights ferociously when it comes to our veterans,” Sarno said.

“The United States of America, because of our veterans, is still the greatest nation in the world. The home of democracy, strength, hope and opportunity … And that’s all because of our veterans,” he added.
Springfield Health and Human Services Commissioner Helen Caulton-Harris went off Sarno’s remarks and thanked the mayor for his support for the veterans. She also acknowledged Neal’s efforts by saying,

“There is no one who has supported veterans more than you in our congress.”

Caulton-Harris noted that 1.1 million Americans across all wars have lost their lives “in defense of this country so that I can stand here, and we all can enjoy our freedoms. We owe our veterans a debt of gratitude.”

Veterans Services Department Director Thomas Belton said, “We love them in life as veterans but let us not abandon them in death … If we can keep that alive, we’ve accomplished what we need to do as a country.”

Following the ceremony, five red, white and blue wreaths were laid on the veteran’s monuments across the street from City Hall, along with a rifle salute and sounding of taps.