New Ipswich seeks stories of veterans to honor this Memorial Day

By ASHLEY SAARI

Monadnock Ledger-Transcript

Published: 05-12-2023 11:57 AM

New Ipswich has scheduled its Memorial Day observances for May 21, and is asking residents to submit veteran candidates to be honored during this year’s ceremonies.

As is traditional, the town expects to hold two parades with observances at local cemeteries. This year, however, the Select Board has proposed a new element to the program, which will include highlighting specific veterans who have died.

Up to three veterans would be highlighted, with their stories read at Smithville Cemetery, Center Cemetery and at the Civil War Memorial during the usual stops on the Memorial Day parade route.

Those who would like to submit the stories of friends of family members may send a written account that can be read within about five minutes to Select Board members Shawn Talbor at stalbot@townofnewipswich.org, Jason Somero at jsomero@townofnewipswich.org or Lou Alvarez at lalvarez@townofnewipswich.org, or Town Administrator Debbie Deaton at townadmin@newipswichnh.gov.

The morning parade will be in Smithville Village, forming up at the flagpole on Goen Road at 9:30 a.m. and stepping off at 10 a.m. accompanied by the Mascenic High School Band. Come early for a cup of coffee and coffee bread at Pete and Bonny-Jo Aho’s house on Goen Road.

The parade will march to the South Cemetery for the morning observance program. Since the Taylor Road Bridge is closed, from South Cemetery, the parade will proceed to the bridge in Smithville by way of Binney Hill and Page Hill roads to decorate the waters in honor of those lost at sea, and then back to Smithville Center flagpole to complete the morning program.

The afternoon parade will form up at the Congregational Church at 12:30 p.m. and step off to the Center Cemetery at 1 p.m., with the Keene American Legion Band. After the observance program at the cemetery, the parade will reform and proceed to the Soldiers Monument to conclude the observance program. The parade will once again reform and proceed through the center of New Ipswich to the Memorial Field and disband.

All veterans are encouraged to join either parade to march, in or out of uniform. There is transportation provided for those who would like to be part of the program but are unable to march the length of the parade route. At the end of the parade, there will be free refreshments for parade participants.

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People who need transportation in the parade should contact Memorial Day Parade Committee Chair Ollie Niemi at 603-878-2995.

Ashley Saari can be reached at 603-924-7172, Ext. 244 or asaari@ledgertranscript.com. She’s on Twitter @AshleySaariMLT.

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