NORTHBOROUGH – A volley of shots rang out across town as the Northborough Memorial Day parade made stops at monuments throughout Northborough.
The parade’s final stop was at the veterans memorial at Howard Street Cemetery.
Northborough’s delegation – Reps. Kate Donaghue and Meg Kilcoyne and Sen. Robyn Kennedy – spoke along with Select Board member Kristen Wixted.
“From the battlefields of Lexington and Concord to the Civil War to a multitude of theaters around the world, our history has been made possible because of the brave men and women who have fought for our freedom and the rights that we enjoy today,” said Kennedy.
Wixted said she was the Select Board’s speaker as her husband, Jack, is a retired Army officer. Although they were not married while he was on active duty, the Wixteds were married and had children while he served with the Army National Guard.
Wixted spoke to the fact that Northborough is a Purple Heart Community, which honors military personnel who were either wounded or killed in combat. The town qualifies most recently following the passing of Spc. Brian K. Arsenault, though Wixted also noted the passing of Maj. Andrew Olmsted, PFC David McAfee and PFC Neil Ellsworth.
“These people aren’t just a name, rank and serial number, especially to their family. They had lives and friends and, most of all, families that loved them,” Wixted said.
The men signed up to serve their country, knowing that they may not make it home, she said.
“Northborough appreciates them and others who served our country bravely and who lost their lives,” Wixted said. “Let’s not forget who they were – they were people. Let’s not also forget their families who have given this ultimate sacrifice for our country. Let’s all, to quote Abraham Lincoln, ‘resolve that they should not have died in vain.’”
