Despite a steady rain, Chelsea’s Veterans Park was filled with folks of all ages on Monday afternoon who turned out to honor the community’s veterans.
They thanked the veterans who are still with us. And remembered those who have passed on.
They honored servicemen and women who didn’t come back from war and also those who did.
Veterans from WWII, Korea and Vietnam were joined by those from the Gulf War and those who served the military but did not see battle. Some were meeting for the first time; others were old friends. And as the hand shaking and salutes took place, their common bond shone as brightly as the medals on their chests.
These veterans, our neighbors, served this country so that we can enjoy the freedoms we wake up to each day.
And the community remembered this and ventured out in a cold, steady rain to pay tribute to them all.
Introduced by Chelsea Mayor Jason Lindauer, Rev. Jerry Beaumont, a familiar face in the community from his time at the helm of St. Barnabas Episcopal Church and as the founder of Faith in Action, was the featured speaker.
What some people might not know is that he continued his military service in the Chaplain Corps “rising to the position of Region Chaplain and supervising the chaplains of five Air Wings,” Lindauer said, adding that he continues to serve as Special Advisor to the Region Chaplain.
Lindauer said Beaumont was born in Michigan but he and his family moved to Canada in 1936 and the WWII veteran enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1943 where he trained as a pilot, earned his wings and served on active duty through the remainder of WWII.
He was based in southern England, Lindauer said, “flying with 603 Squadron from RAF Hornchurch in one of the great fighter planes of modern warfare, the Supermarine Spitfire.”
At the end of WWII, he was transferred to Special Reserve Section “E” and assigned to the Royal Canadian Air Cadet Program and remained in that position until returning to America in 1948,” Lindauer said.
“Father Jerry was recruited into the United States Air Force Auxiliary serving in various capacities including squadron commander,” the mayor said.
In addition, Beaumont was awarded the George Cross, the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal, the Canadian Victory Medal, the US Exceptional Service medal and the Meritorious Service Medal twice.
Calling veterans a band of brothers, Beaumont said that on this day, like on so many others, older servicemen, especially, would reflect on their experiences and wonder why they made it back, while others did not.
He made everyone laugh when he talked about the older veterans who’d have to squeeze into their uniforms that had shrunk over the years, and he reminded those of us who did not serve that veterans were captives of their own imaginations, and that some of these memories were awoken on Veterans Day. For others, he said, their time in the service was in their minds when they slept, and each day, although they didn’t talk about it, the memories of those experiences were never far from the surface.
He saluted and blessed all those who had served and made it home and wished Godspeed to those who did not.
Members of the American Legion Post 31 presented and retired the colors, school children sang, “Taps” was played and gratitude for veterans at home, in heaven, and in foreign countries, was felt by all who were in Veterans Park on Monday, Nov. 11, 2013.
Please enjoy the photo gallery below that captures some of the special moments.
