On Monday, May 30th the City of Newport held a Memorial Day remembrance ceremony to honor men and women that were killed while in service to our great nation that also called Newport home. The ceremony also gives recognition and honor to all Veterans that have served and are no longer with us.
The event was coordinated by John Duchesneau, Commander of American Legion Post 7 and also the VFW Post 406 Adjutant. Additionally, John served as the Master of Ceremonies. Capt. Mark Turner, USN (Ret) provided the keynote address – he also holds membership in Legion Post 7 & VFW Post 406. Larry Connell, Director of the Providence Veteran Affairs Healthcare System also addressed attendees, giving a report on recent changes and improvements to VA care in Rhode Island. Newport Mayor Jeanne-Marie Napolitano spoke on behalf of the City of Newport as well.
The Artillery Company of Newport, commanded by Bill Ferrell opened and closed the observance with a musket-fired salute.
The ceremony was held on the front lawn of Newport City Hall. This site is chosen each year to host the service as memorials to those killed in action in WWI, WWII, Korea and Vietnam are located here. Each memorial lists the names of Newporters that volunteered to serve in each conflict but would not return home alive. The remains of many of the individuals listed on the memorials remain overseas, buried among thousands of other Americans interred at cemeteries maintained by the American Battlefield Monuments Commission in Europe, Africa, and the Pacific.