Southport Column: Military veterans honored

Tue, 11/14/2017 - 7:30am

Our Veterans experienced an outpouring of attention and affection this past week.  The Southport Central School children, “Mayor” Gerry Gamage, and the Community band started us off with a lively program on Wednesday evening, Nov. 8 at the Southport Town Hall.  

The students. dressed in red, white, and blue, sang a number of military songs from memory, and recited the Pledge of Allegiance. Readers my age may remember as I do, before car radios, families sang in the car, and since I was a young child in the ’40s, many songs we sang were military and patriotic ones, belted out with strong emotions, encouraging our troops on to victory in World War II.  Best of all, in preparation for this program, the students learned some of that history and history from that time forward. Look for more details about this program in an article by Kevin Burnham elsewhere in this paper.

On Veterans Day, Saturday, Nov. 11, the Southport Memorial Library filled with veterans and their families for the second program beginning with the lowering of the flag at the World War I armistice time of 11 a.m.  Many thanks to Jim Singer who was the master of ceremonies and who had collected photos and prepared a slide show of regional veterans. Retired Coast Guard BMC Suzanne Machon-Ames spoke of her career and experiences in that branch of the military. Gerry Gamage led us in the singing of “God Bless America.” Kit Sherrill offered a prayer for our veterans and our country, Gerry read the names of veterans who had died in the past year, Bob Dent played taps, following which Tim Hanley, under the watchful eye of his father, one of our veterans, raised the flag. Thanks to the Friends of the Library who organized this annual event, to Linda Brewer and her staff who are always helpful, and to all who participated in this special ceremony.

A reminder that the artist reception originally billed for Nov. 4 at the Southport Memorial Library will now take place Nov. 18 from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Photographer Ronn Orenstein will be the guest. Also available at the library is a scrapbook made by Mollie Moore in 1947, when she was 13, showing us the events surrounding the wedding 70 years ago of now Queen Elizabeth II of England.  Although Mollie may have had a bit more interest in this event, being an English girl living in England, but I remember the event clearly and loved to read about the romance between Prince Philip and the Princess Elizabeth. Perhaps you too will enjoy reading the items Mollie chose for her book and seeing the pictures. In this day of many divorces, even within the royal family, the Prince and the Queen stand out as a couple worthy of our admiration. Be sure to notice the cover which Mollie explains is a potato stencil, made by cutting out a potato, placing it on the cover material, and then filling in the spaces with paint.

Our library will host another meeting on Thursday, Nov. 16 at 2 p.m. for anyone interested in discussing how we continue to work as a community during times of trial, such as the recent storm and power outage, to be sure everyone is safe and has necessities such a food and potable water. All are welcome.

As I type a few snowflakes are falling.  Winter is upon us!