51st annual Memorial Day ceremony in Exeter honors fallen soldiers

EXETER, R.I. (WLNE) — State officials, Veterans, and Gold Star family members gathered at the Veterans Memorial Cemetery on Monday for the 51st Annual Memorial Day Commemoration.

On Monday afternoon, participants honored Veterans and service members who lost their lives in the line of duty.

“It is on this day, we reaffirm our commitment to honoring them and thanking them everyday,” Governor Dan McKee said. “On behalf of the entire state of Rhode Island, thank you to our fallen heroes, thank you to our families.”

Senator Jack Reed also spoke at the commemoration, sharing Veterans’ impacts on America’s freedom and democracy.

“We are here because we appreciate the extraordinary sacrifice that has been made on behalf of our country by generations of Americans,” Senator Jack Reed said. “Today is a day to recognize those who’ve sacrificed all, so that we may have a fair chance in the race of life. We also come together to recommit ourselves, to live our lives in a way that will justify their great sacrifice. They’re the ones who bought us a chance to build a strong democracy. They’re the ones who gave all of themselves so that we could do our best to provide opportunities for all Americans.”

The annual event began at 1 p.m., with dozens gathering to honor the lives of fallen soldiers.

“As we stand here on this beautiful day in this solemn place, we seek to remember, to remember honor, to remember valor, to remember sacrifice. Its so easy for us to turn the page, onto the next thing, onto new things, but we are here to remember,” Champlain Major Robert Clark said.

McKee also acknowledged Gold Star families, and said “they carry a heavy burden, and we need to make sure we recognize that… especially today on Memorial Day, we want them to know we see them, we thank them, and we support them.”