Remembering Those Who Served
Lakes Region Memorial Day Observances
By Kathi Caldwell-Hopper
“Our debt to the heroic men and valiant women in the service of our country can never be repaid. They have earned our undying gratitude.”
— President Harry S. Truman
Memorial Day observances will be taking place all over the Lakes Region on Monday, May 25. It is a somber day to remember and express our gratitude for those who gave their lives for our country during wartime.
That special day – Memorial Day - takes place in the spring season, a hopeful time when flowers are starting to bloom, and the earth is renewed. The warmer weather and flowers have allowed families of fallen soldiers access to florals for decorating the final resting places of loved ones.
The practice of wearing a red poppy on Memorial Day started during World War I, in 1915 to be exact, when Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae saw red poppies blooming in abundance in Flanders Field in Belgium. He was so moved that he wrote the poem, “In Flanders Field.” The poignant poem was about fallen soldiers, and it became a well-known and beloved piece of writing. Thus began the practice of wearing a red poppy on Memorial Day.
We know Memorial Day as a time to honor the fallen who served our country, whether in the distant past or at any time in the history of the United States. Memorial Day was once called Decoration Day, a time for observances and decorating the graves of those who died while in service.
Decoration Day began in the 1860s, after the Civil War. The practice of decorating the graves of war dead with floral wreaths is where the name Decoration Day originated. The name was changed from Decoration Day to Memorial Day in 1971, and it was scheduled to be observed on the last Monday in May.
The Civil War was a time of great distress, but also determination to put an end to slavery and societal issues. Women, as well as men, stepped forward to serve, usually as nurses.
Sara Low from Dover, New Hampshire, was one such woman. She was said to have a selfless personality and wanted to care for others. This made her choice of a career as a nurse the perfect profession. When she declared her intention of serving as a nurse in the Civil War, her family was not encouraging. They did not approve of their daughter entering into such a dangerous situation, but Sara prevailed.
After a taxing train trip from New Hampshire to Washington, Sara began her work as a war nurse. In his writings, “From Dover History” by Robert Whitehouse, Sara’s words were captured: “I arrived safely at the Union Hotel Hospital. I took off my bonnet in Miss Stevenson’s room and went with her to her ward where she still had the wounds of three young men to dress. One of them, of the New Hampshire 6th Regiment, was very anxious to hear what they were doing in New Hampshire.”
A few days later, she wrote, “Part of the surgeons have gone to the battle field and will probably be back tonight or in a few days. The wounded are brought in, for the most part, over corduroy roads. The suffering is indescribable. Often they are not able to keep to the direct road, but go first in one direction, then in another to escape the fire of guerillas.”
Sara’s compassionate personality came out when she wrote to her family, “Attending to the wounds is only one part of a nurses duty, but it is the pleasantest part.” After serving through very difficult times, Sara returned home to New Hampshire in the summer of 1865.
One person (among thousands of others) who served with courage was Civil War nurse Harriet Dame. Born in Barnstead, New Hampshire in 1815, Dame lived a life of service far from her origins. She cared for her aging parents and in the 1850s, after her parents had died, Dame turned her family property into a boardinghouse.
When the Civil War broke out, Dame wanted to serve her country. The best (and only way) for a woman to do so at the time was to be a nurse. Dame volunteered to work as a nurse in the 2nd New Hampshire Regiment from Concord. She had no formal medical training, but she learned fast. Consequently, she nursed the soldiers until the group disbanded in 1865.
Dame was very courageous as she worked in the camps, and later when her Regiment fought in the battle of the First Bull Run, she insisted on being on the front lines. Those in power tried to stop her request to be at the front, saying it was “no place for a woman.” Dame, however, did not give in. She joined a team of doctors to attend the sick and wounded.
Her service was risky and dangerous. At one point, Dame was captured by the Confederates and taken to be a spy. This nearly got her shot, but Confederate General Stonewall Jackson ordered her to be released.
After the war, Dame lived in Washington, D.C. and worked as a clerk and later became the president of the Army Nurses Association. She was an advocate for helping war veterans, and she worked to fund the building of veterans’ homes. As a testament to her respect among the troops, over 600 soldiers signed a petition asking the United States Senate to give Dame a pension for her service. The Senate agreed, making Dame among the few women to hold such an honor.
Memorial Day parades and commemorations listed take place in the Lakes Region:
Wolfeboro’s observance will be on Monday, May 25. According to American Legion Post Parade Marshal Paul Vivian, all veterans’ graves in Wolfeboro and Tuftonboro will be decorated. The annual Wolfeboro parade will form at Brewster Field (next to the Congregational Church). The parade will start at 9 am and proceed from Main Street to dockside (downtown) for a lowering of the flag to half mast, and a ceremonial salute. Following this, flower petals will be placed on the lake water. There also will be a playing of Taps, the national anthem, and patriotic music by the Kingswood Regional High School band. For information on the Wolfeboro observances and parade, call Paul Vivian at 703-798-8978. Vivian adds that all veterans are welcome to march in the parade.
The New Hampshire Veterans Home (NHVH) Memorial Day Ceremony will be held Monday, May 25, at 11 am in the Veterans Home’s Town Hall’s Great Room. There will be a keynote speaker at the ceremony, along with other portions of the program. The New Hampshire Veterans Home is located at 139 Winter Street, Tilton. For more information, contact Sarah Stanley, New Hampshire Veterans Home Public Information Officer, at 603-527-4425.
Observances in Laconia will take place on Monday, May 25, with a Memorial Day Remembrance at 11 am held at Veteran’s Square in Laconia with a wreath laying and comments. After the Remembrance, there will be a luncheon open to the public following the remembrance (location TBA as of press time.) For more information, call 603-524-9725.
Gilford observances will be held on Monday, May 25, with parade participants gathering in the parking lot of the Gilford Community Church on Potter Hill Road at 9:45 am. The parade will proceed to the WWI / WWII Memorial and Pine Grove Cemetery, where Reverend Michael Graham will lead a prayer. All veterans are invited to join in the parade. Please call the Gilford Town Hall at 603-527-4700 for further information.
In Alton, Memorial Day observances will be held on Monday, May 25. The parade will line up at 9:30 am at Monument Square in downtown Alton and step off at 10 am. The observance will be under the Auspices of Claude R. Batchelder Post 72, American Legion, American Legion Auxiliary, Sons of the American Legion, and American Legion Riders. Services will be held at Riverside Cemetery and Monument Square. Following the services, everyone is invited to Post 72 for refreshments. In the event of rain, all services will be held at Post 72 on Rt. 28 in Alton. For information, call the Alton Town Hall at 603-875-3461.
Moultonborough will hold observances on Monday, May 25, with the procession gathering at the elementary school on Blake Road at 10 am, and proceeding to the Moultonborough Town Hall, located at 6 Holland Street. At the town hall, there will be a remembrance ceremony. For information, call 603-476-8868.
The village of Center Sandwich will hold a Memorial Day Remembrance Program at the Honor Roll next to the post office on Main Street in Center Sandwich on Monday, May 25. During the ceremony, veterans will lay a wreath, and other observances will be held. For information, call 603-284-7701.
The town of Meredith will observe Memorial Day on Monday, May 25, stepping off at 10 am from the American Legion Post, 6 Plymouth St., proceeding to the Meredith Library for opening remarks and Taps, followed by the parade going to Lang St. Cemetery, then finishing at the Hesky Park POW MIA memorial for a wreath laying in the water. Remarks will follow regarding the POW MIA memorial. A free lunch for all will follow at the American Legion. Call 603-707-1927 for further information.
Plymouth will observe Memorial Day with a parade on Monday, May 25, starting at the Plymouth National Guard at 10:30 am. The parade will proceed south to Main Street and stop in front of the Town Hall for a ceremony starting at 11 am, concluding at that location after services. Participating in the parade will be police, fire, some state representatives, select board members, and the Scouts. Call Kelsie at 603-254-5869.
Bristol’s observances are pending as of press time. Call Bristol town hall at 603-744-2521 or visit www.bristolnh.gov for updates and information.
Center Harbor’s Memorial Day observances (parade, etc.) will be held on Monday, May 25. Details pending as of press time; call 603-455-1632 for updates or email parksandrecreation@centerharbornh.gov.