Veterans, first-responders, Sea Cadets and marching musicians honored the nation’s and Temple’s fallen in the town’s Memorial Day parade on Sunday. 

David Quinn, Army National Guard (Ret.), led the procession, which stepped off at noon and stood in formation across the street from the Town Common, where speakers delivered remarks on those who have given their all in service.franc

Quinn quoted Napoleon in reminding all gathered that it is those who have sacrificed for the nation who have defined it.

“The boundaries of a nation’s greatness are marked by the graves of its soldiers,” said Quinn. He recounted various battles from past wars that were costly in American lives, including the loss of the five Sullivan brothers in the sinking of the USS Juneau during World War II.

“Yesterday, we said goodbye to another veteran right here in Temple,” said Quinn,  remembering resident Brian Kullgren, a sergeant in the Army who was stationed in Germany during the Vietnam War. Kullgren died last month and was laid to rest the previous day in Miller Cemetery in town.

Members of the Temple and Greenville fire departments marched, as did the Sea Cadet Corps, the Navy’s youth-development program. The Temple Band, which dates from 1799 and which Quinn called “the oldest band in the nation” also marched and paid respects as a three-rifle volley saluted the fallen in front of the Temple Congregational Church.

Commemorative wreaths were laid on three crosses under trees in town, in memory of three local sons: David Quinn, Leon Blood and Murray M. Day.

Temple resident 1st Sgt. David Quinn died on Nov. 20, 1943, when he was mortally wounded by an exploding enemy shell during the first wave of the assault on the Tarawa Atoll fighting the Japanese. His remains were initially not identified, but later when DNA science made this possible, his remains were disinterred from the Cemetery of the Pacific and he was reburied in Temple in 2018. 

Gunner’s Mate Leon Blood of Temple drowned near the Marshall Islands on May 5, 1944. Seven months later, 1st Lt. Murray M. Day of Temple was killed in action, but the town report of that year does not indicate where he fell. 

“Taps” was played, and the procession marched to the common where it was played again, followed by another three-rifle salute. 

Three riderless horses were also part of the ceremony. Leading the way was Buddy, with a battle helmet on his saddle and boots in the stirrups turned backward to symbolize that he was missing his rider.