MAY | Remembering The Fallen
Perhaps it was appropriate that Memorial Day this year began with a fog, a heavy one, and perhaps it was also appropriate—at least for the more optimistic of us—that by 10:30 when the official ceremony kicked off at the Amaral Bailey American Legion Hall in Manchester, the sun began its surge.
Manchester was the only Cape Ann community that held an in-person ceremony. In light of COVID-19 and the state’s tentative and phased return from mass quarantine, Rockport, Essex, and Gloucester opted out of actual community events to mark fallen soldiers in US wars. All communities participated instead in a virtual ceremony, organized by 1623 Studios and airing at 11 a.m. on the holiday. Manchester planned its ceremony carefully.
This year was different. No parade, no bands, no Rosedale Cemetery, and no Flanders Field. The public was encouraged to stay away from the Legion Hall, but many came. Those in attendance kept to safe-distancing rules, in masks and spread out in the parking lot between cars, and sat in chairs on the lawn of the Masonic Hall next door. Some showed up by boat in the inner harbor. Others could be seen sprinkled on porches and decks of homes along the water.
State Senator Bruce Tarr was in attendance and spoke. So did Adam Curcuru, Cape Ann’s Veterans Service Officer who would typically be taken on Memorial Day for Gloucester’s services. The Legion firing line battalion began, led by William “Bill” Bell, Sergeant in Arms leading the 2020 detail: George Nickless, G. David MacDougall, Robert “Bob” Reed, Mike Kwedor, Michael Doane, Mike Grimm and Dane Moruzee. American Legion Chaplain Bruce G. Heisey led the 30-minute service, which included Dan Slade, Jack Buckley, Tom Henderson, Michelle Baer, Cheryl Lamphear (both Legion Auxillary), Paul Dozier, Vionette Chipperini, Tom Cockfield (Coast Guard), Ed Gavin (Air Force), Bill Lemke (Marines), Bob Cannon (Navy) and Kayla Lemke (Army).
The American Legion Auxiliary Unit 113, Manchester, celebrates 100 years attending to the needs of Veterans of WWl, WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Grenada and Lebanon, Panama, Persian Gulf to cessation of hostilities on War on Terror. This covers over 100 years of conflicts, and many made the ultimate sacrifice. We, the Auxiliary, have a mission to support the American Legion and all Veterans of all Wars. In observing our 100th anniversary, we will be printing up short articles from the decades of beautifully handwritten ledgers from our past Officers. We hope many of you will read familiar names and enjoy the events that took place from 1921-2021.
Part 1
The following is an excerpt from the first ledger (Oct.11, 1921) of minutes of the first organizing meeting of the Frank B. Amaral American Legion Auxiliary Unit 113, Manchester, MA.
“The Women’s Auxiliary to the Frank B. Amaral Post 113 American Legion Auxiliary met in the Price School Hall on Tuesday, October 11, 1921. The meeting was called to order by temporary chairman, Mrs. Raymond C. Allen, and the report of the nominating committee was read as follows:
President, Mrs. Hattie Baker; Vice President, Mrs. Foster Tenney; Recording Secretary, Miss Margaret Henneberry; Financial Secretary,Mrs. Albert James; Executive Board, Mrs. Raymond Allen, Mrs. Franklin Rustand and Mrs. Clifford Doane.
It was moved, seconded, and voted that the election be made by individual ballots and Mrs. Hattie Baker was elected President. The Chairman then turned the meeting over to the President and the following officers and Executive Board were elected: see above.
The report of the by-laws committee was read and each of the articles of the constitution was voted on separately. The regular monthly meeting will be held on the third Monday of the month at 8 p.m. in the Price School Hall, as voted.
An invitation of entertainment to be held in the Odd Fellows Hall by the local Legion Post on Tuesday evening, October 25, was read by the President who appointed Mrs. Charles Fritz, chairman, Miss Lena Jones, Mrs. Elise Ward, Miss Margaret Gillis, and Miss Mollie McNeary, as committee to help boys serve refreshments on that night.
After the business meeting, ice cream was served by a voluntary entertainment committee composed of Miss Raymond Allen, Miss Anna Coughlin, and Mrs. Elsie Ward.
Thirty-six members were present at the meeting. Respectively submitted, Margaret Henneberry, Recording Secretary.”
As you can see, as soon as the National Auxiliary was put in place in 1920, our village Auxiliary jumped into action. It is interesting to note that in 1920, the country was still recovering from the global pandemic and here we are again recovering from a pandemic in 2021 while trying to support our Veterans.
The Auxiliary History Committee: Eleanor Lee, Linda Lee, Cheryl Lamphear, Liz Dozier, Judi Sabella, Kathy Filias, Cynthia Bell and Michelle Baer.
