Community honors those who died in service to our country
2025 Manchester Memorial Day Ceremony in Oak Grove Cemetery, Post Chaplain Chuck Steele speaking. Photo courtesy of Linda Mussio.
by Sara Swanson
Manchester’s American Legion Post 117 held the annual Memorial Day Ceremony in Oak Grove Cemetery last Monday at 11am. Post Commander Robert Luckhardt opened the ceremony, followed by the National Anthem played by the Manchester High School Marching Band and the flag raising by the Boy Scouts. Afterward, the band played service songs and the Navy Hymn. Jay Truchan, vice president of Camp Liberty located just down the road from the cemetery, gave a flag-folding demonstration. Luckhardt gave the Memorial Day address and read the names of the Legion members who had passed away since the last Memorial Day Ceremony including Robert Gross, Wayne Kennedy, Richard Martin, Richard Paul, and Chris Strong. The Boy Scouts placed a wreath and the rifle squad gave a rifle salute. Henry Trout from the high school band played “Taps.” Chuck Steele, Post Chaplain, gave the closing prayer. New this year was the inclusion of a veteran-piloted small plane flyover, which was arranged by Camp Liberty.
Linda Mussio, an attendee at the ceremony stated, “People walked, drove cars and golf carts, and enjoyed the glorious weather together. The band played all the patriotic songs for the remembrance of each branch of military. We had a flyover by a small airplane from Camp Liberty. We heard Jay explain the meaning of each fold of the flag. The Boy Scouts participated and tribute was paid by playing ‘Taps.’ American Legion spoke and read a list of Manchester people we have lost in wars. They led a salute and the firing of guns to honor all those we have lost in military service. The Boy Scouts laid the Memorial wreath. It was a brief but meaningful ceremony for our community.”
Another attendee, Jane Talcott, wanted to thank the band. She stated, “Kudos to the Manchester High School Marching Band, its staff, and supporters for providing music at the American Legion’s Memorial Day ceremony at Oak Grove Cemetery.”
The day didn’t start at 11am for Legion members, however. They started the day at 8am putting up American flags lining Main Street. This year they had a good-sized group of volunteers to help. They then participated in the Norvell Cemetery Memorial Day Ceremony in which the Manchester Legion Post just assisted in the purchase of a new flag pole. During the Norvell Ceremony, Steele was honored for helping take care of the cemetery for 83 years, starting in 1942 when he was 12.
Members of American Legion Post 117, 2025 Memorial Day Ceremony, Oak Grove Cemetery. Photo courtesy of Linda Mussio.
Flyover by a small plane piloted by a veteran, arranged by Camp Liberty. Photo courtesy of Linda Mussio.
Manchester High School Marching Band, Memorial Day 2025. Photo courtesy of Linda Mussio.
Wreath laid by the Boy Scouts, Memorial Day 2025. Photo courtesy of Linda Mussio.
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