SKOWHEGAN — David Richards, interim director of the Margaret Chase Smith Library in Skowhegan, told a Memorial Day assembly Monday to remember war veterans with the four S’es: Service, sacrifice, suffering and silence.

“Service is the first and foremost thing we want to honor today,” Richards said at Veterans Memorial Park next to the municipal building. “And sacrifice, as you look around at these stones you see one over here — killed in action — the closest that some Skowhegan boys and girls ever got to coming back to Skowhegan is having their names on a stone.”

Richards said the suffering during the nation’s wars, especially during the Civil War when an estimated 300,000 men were killed, has to be remembered for all time. He said the “wounded souls” that returned home also suffered from the affects of war and continue to do so in the wake of current wars.

Finally, he said, silence is a major factor in remembering war veterans. He said his grandfather, Clayton Sherman Spinney, would never talk about his service in World War II because of the suffering he experienced. Veterans who do come back often keep their experiences to themselves, Richards said.

“He was pretty silent about the war and what had happened and the affect it had had on him,” Richards said. “Don’t forget the silence that many veterans have — the suffering and the sacrifice they want to keep locked away. Be listening for that. I think the reason my grandfather remained silent was because he didn’t fight in the war for the glory of war — he fought for peace.”

Monday’s ceremonies followed a long, well-attended parade through downtown Skowhegan. The parade ended at Veterans Memorial Park, where the Rev. Mark Tanner of the Federated Church paid tribute to all the men and women who have served in foreign wars. Veteran Frank Norman was the parade’s grand marshal.

Steve Spaulding, commander of American Legion Post 16 and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3198, led a Pledge of Allegiance to the flag. Student Melissa Kelly sang “The Star Spangled Banner,” and veteran Bob Mercer delivered the Gettysburg Address. The high school band played “Battle Hymn of the Republic.” Carl Anton recited his song “The Good Men & Women of the Legion.”

Roberta Knowles, past president of the Legion Auxiliary Post 16, and widow of longtime event organizer and past VFW and Legion Commander Royce Knowles, who died in December, once again recited the poem “In Flanders Fields.”

Rick Dorian, pastor of the Centenary United Methodist Church, gave the final benediction.

Doug Harlow — 612-2367

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