Fairhaven parade, ceremony honor fallen military

By Beth David, Editor

Fairhaven held its annual Memorial Day parade on Monday, 5/26/25, marching on Main Street from Union Street to Riverside Cemetery for a ceremony that included speeches, patriotic music, and the firing of the small cannon by the Fairhaven Village Militia.

Along the route, supporters waved flags and clapped as the parade went by. Young Grayson and his sister, Emery, waved flags to show support for veterans as the parade marched by. They go every year, said Grayson.

“Because we have to support them,” said Emery.

In front of Oxford Terrace, resi­dents lined the sidewalk, including Janice, who served in the Air Force, and waved a flag to show support for the veterans marching in the parade.

Keynote speaker Jonathan Casey, retired Lt. Col, US Air Force, decided to give up part of his time to US Army Veteran, ret. Col. Mitch Watkins. Mr. Casey, who was a medic, said he thought someone with combat experi­ence should speak. 

Col. Watkins said he served for 32 years in the US Army, and was deployed overseas to a number of places, including Desert Shield, Desert Storm, Bosnia, Kosovo, Africa, Iraq and Afghanistan.

He thanked Massachusetts, where the beginning of freedom for America started, and has been giving more than its fair share of men and women to the cause from the Revolutionary war until today.

He said he met his wife, Bethany, in the Army, when he was a Staff Sergeant withe the 82nd Airborne Division. And they started their adventure not imagining the “wonderful, painful, tragic, and rewarding life we would lead during our service to the army.”

“On the battlefield, I witnessed great courage and sacrifice from men and women in uniform,” said Col. Watkins, while at home, Bethany did her best to raise the family and comfort those who had lost family members in battle.

He had to carry out the duties of leading soldiers in battle, he said, but more humbling was presenting a flag to the family member of a fallen soldier.

Col. Watkins thanked everyone for their patriotism, adding, “And I want you to kow that by honoring these fallen you not ony show the value they have to us, but you also encourage the next generation to serve.”

When Lt. Col. Casey took the podium again, he said he appreciated the turnout for those who “gave the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our country and our ideals.”

Working in a medical facility, he said the severity of the battlefield casualties was as impressive as it was horrific. He said they were proud of their 94% survival rate.

“But today, we are here to honor the six percent. The falllen heroes,” said Lt. Col. Casey. 

He said the numbers are much bigger than that, and said they need to look at the 22 a day, the number of veterans who die by suicide; those who got home and “appear to be” among the lucky. 

He said “suicidal vet” should be an oxymoron. 

There is a lot more awareness now, he said, which is the first step in tackling the problem.

He challenged everyone to remember the fallen no matter what the cost, not only with great pride and honor

“But let’s remember them and smile,” he said. “They were great people and we love the time we had with them.”

The ceremony also included an invocation by the Rev. Maria Uitti McCabe; the reading of the Governor’s proclamation by Select Board Chairperson Charles Murphy; the reading of the honor roll by SB member Andrew Romano; remarks by State Rep. Mark Sylvia; taps; Amazing Grace on the bagpipes by Bruce Webb; reading of the Gettysburg Address by Fairhaven High School senior class president Amelia Breese; God Bless America by the Fairhaven High School Band; a selection by the Fairhaven School Choral Group;

The event will be available at FairhavenTV.com under Community Media.

 

•••

Click here to download the 5/29/25 issue: 05-29-25 MemDay

Support local journalism, donate to the Neighb News with PayPal