Natalee Webb, guest speaker at Huntington’s Memorial Day service, with her PTSD service dog in training, Natasha, a Russian Bolonka. (Photo by Amy Porter)
HUNTINGTON – The town of Huntington celebrated Memorial Day with a small parade at 8 a.m., followed by a service on the town commons.
Rev. Doug Belanger of Pioneer Valley Assembly of God gave the invocation, and selectman Jeffrey McKittrick officiated. Resident Marie Zomek sang “God bless America,” followed by poetry readings by boy and girl scouts.
Women veterans were highlighted by guest speaker Natalee Webb of North Attleboro, a member of the Women Veterans’ Network. Webb was one of the first female aircraft mechanics, serving in Okinawa, Japan in 1977. She spoke about how few women were in the service with her, and how today women are jet pilots and astronauts. Webb also said she served at a time when many fellow citizens were opposed to the military, and how much that has turned around since 9/11.
Also speaking was Edward Renauld, veteran’s service agent for Huntington. Renauld said that 400 veterans are buried in Huntington, from the Revolutionary War up to the Gulf War. He encouraged veterans or their widows who need services to contact him via the Huntington Town Hall. His regular hours are the third Wednesday of every month from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m.
Renauld then laid a wreath at a war memorial, and the flag was lowered to half-mast as Zomek sang a patriotic medley. A 21-gun salute and a benediction by Rev. Charles Cinelli of the Huntington Evangelical Church ended the program.
