Harwich ‘Small In Size, Large In Patriotism’

 HARWICH – The rain did not deter a large gathering for Monday’s Memorial Day ceremony, which was moved from Brooks Park to the multi-purpose room in the community center.

 The ceremony on the 250th anniversary of the nation delved into the commitment of Harwich residents who stood strong in the fight for American independence between 1775 and 1783.

Guest speaker Ret. Navy Chief Petty Officer Robert L. Parr, Jr. praised the commitment of the community dating back to the Revolution and drew a clear picture of service to this nation by Harwich residents throughout all conflicts.

 “This town, though small in size, has always been large in patriotism and courage,” Parr said. “During the Revolutionary War alone, more than 400 men from Harwich answered the call of liberty. They left farms, fishing boats, workshops and families so future generations could inherit freedom. Their sacrifice helped create the nation whose flag still flies above us today.”

Harwich never stopped answering the call, he said, citing commitments from the Revolution through wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, naming local residents who lost their lives in those conflicts.

 “They are the faces of the fallen. They were neighbors, family members, classmates, workers and friends. They once walked the same streets we walk, looked out on the same waters and called Harwich home,” Parr said. 

Memorial Day is dedicated to those who died in service, but it would be a failure to forget those who returned home and continued to bear the cost long after the guns fell silent, he said. He related a story of a friend lost at sea while serving with him on the aircraft carrier USS Midway.

 “Freedom is not inherited without cost. It has always been purchased by sacrifice. Each of our own Harwich citizens lost in service has a story just as heart wrenching,” said Parr.

 “As a retired Navy veteran, I know that those who serve never do so alone,” he said. “They carry with them their hometowns, their neighbors, their schools, their churches and their families. Every Harwich veteran who wore the uniform also carried Harwich with them.

 “Memorial Day is one of our nation’s most sacred observances because it asks something important of each generation: that we remember,” Parr said. 

He also asked those present to observe a moment of silence for Boston firefighter Robert Kilduff, Jr, a former marine, who died fighting a fire in Dorchester over the weekend.

In her opening remarks, Cemetery Administrator Robbin Kelley encouraged those in attendance to remember the 17 men from Harwich who lost their lives defending the ideals of freedom and self-governance fighting for the birth of their nation.

 “Today, we remember not only their sacrifice, but also the enduring legacy they left behind. Their service helped shape a new nation founded on liberty, courage, and perseverance,” Kelly said. 

Historian Lynne Zalesak said of the more than 400 men fro

m Harwich who served in the Revolutionary War at least a dozen were of African or Native American descent. And at least two of them were lost while servicing. A few of them also served in the French and Indian War, she said. They should not be forgotten, she said, naming each of them and explaining that all who served during the Revolution from Harwich will be recognized in the memorial circle in Evergreen Cemetery in the fall.