The Cathedral of the Pines in Rindge hosted its annual Memorial Day service Thursday.
The service began with a professional and posting of the colors by the Rindge Veterans Association Honor Guard and Color Guard, taking place at the Altar of the Nation.
Over 40 guests sat facing the altar comprised of stones from each of the 50 states, a monument that was recognized by Congress in 1957 as a National Memorial to American War Dead. And 14 Patriotic Organizations had representatives attending the ceremony, including American Red Cross, the U.S. Army Ranger Association and the Vietnam Veterans of America.
Reverend Kathleene Card of the Peterborough United Methodist Church greeted the guests with opening remarks and an Invocation Prayer.
“An airline captain once said that the American Flag does not fly because the wind blows past it, it flies with each breath of those defending it,” Card said.
Cathedral of the Pines Chairman of the Board Jefferson Allen followed the prayer with a welcoming statement, highlighting the mission of the Cathedral. “This organization has a mission to give tribute to those that gave the ultimate sacrifice,” he said.
One of many veterans attending the ceremony, Retired U.S. Army combat medic Bill Edson took to the podium to tell stories of the 43 comrades he lost in Iraq.
“I couldn’t help but feel for the families who didn’t know what was coming their way,” Edson said when describing the horrors he witnessed as a combat medic. “I want the young people today is to remember when you hear taps or sing the national anthem, understand what that means. Memorial Day is very personal to me. All I ask is for you to make it personal as well.”
At the end of the ceremony, the 14 Patriotic Organizations were recognized as they gave a tribute to the Altar in the form of a rose. The Jaffrey Boy Scouts assisted by retrieving the roses from each of the representatives and placing them on
Also featured at the event were two new donations to the Cathedral of the Pines.
Jaffrey resident Dorrie Stearns-Upton donated small homemade bookcase she calls the “Little Free Library”, containing free books and a plaque that reads, “Take a book, leave a book.”
“Our mission is to inspire a love of reading,” Stearns-Upton said. “The library has books about military history to honor those who preserved our freedom.”
A ceremonial red ribbon was tied around the library to celebrate a new addition to the Cathedral. After the service, the Cathedral Executive Director Patricia Vargas shared the honor of cutting the ribbon with Stearns-Upton.
The other donation, from the National Society of Women’s Descendants of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company, was a small “Children’s Garden” planted outside of the Hilltop House.
One of the Society’s members, Susan Holden, views the garden as a symbol of her youth. As a child, she watched three of her siblings leave for war while she stayed home.
“I think veterans are incredible people,” she said. “They should be thanked.”
Refreshments were available in the Hilltop House at the end of the event, encouraging guests to connect and share stories.
Donations can be made to the Cathedral of the Pines at www.CathedralOfThePines.org.