SOUTHBURY — Rain couldn’t dampen Southbury’s Memorial Day spirit as residents gathered on Monday to honor those who have fallen in the service of our country.
While the annual parade down Main Street South was called off, the community gathered inside the Parks and Rec/Senior Center building for a ceremony, which was followed by an outdoor picnic.
In the words of the Memorial Day Parade Committee Chairman Mary Korsu, Monday’s ceremony was “one of the best Memorial Day tributes ever.”
“Southbury has what it takes,” she said, “and we just demonstrated it today.”
The indoor ceremony opened with an official proclamation read by Jim Sugden, Commander of American Legion 204, and was followed by remarks from Vietnam veteran and honoree Ken Korsu. Korsu was recently inducted into the Connecticut Veterans’ Hall of Fame, and used his words to carefully reframe the day itself.
“Today is not a happy day,” he reminded the audience. “It is to remember those who have given their lives in sacrifice for this country.”
He also used the occasion to make a quiet plea for unity.
“I’m going to ask all of you, when you leave here today, to be happy that you’re an American,” he said.
Town historian John Dwyer spoke to the timely tribute on the 250th anniversary of the nation’s founding.
He recalled the three Stanclift brothers, only one of whose bodies was returned home to South Britain, and the stone carved by their father that read: “He got his bane in the service of our country.”
He also remembered Joseph Stiles, who served as a substitute for his enslaver and was later killed by a British musket ball in Pennsylvania. “It’s good to recognize his sacrifice, and it’s good to recognize his service on our behalf,” said Dwyer.
The outside portion of the ceremony included guardsmen and women from the 142nd Area Support Medical Company out of Danbury, as well as a flag raising by members of Troop 1607. An invocation was given by Pastor Jeff Lukens of South Britain Congregational Church.
“Let us also remember that honoring our fallen heroes goes beyond today,” said Sugden, of American Legion 204. “It’s a commitment to support our veterans in active duty, ensuring that we know their sacrifice.”
By Evan Triantafilidis
The Southbury Record 