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Community Corner

Barrington Commemorates Veterans Day

Veterans perform ceremonial Veterans Day tribute.

Veteran’s Day means different things to different people.  For kids, it can mean a day off of school, for some it means a day of shopping bargains, for everyone it means a day of no mail.  However, Veteran’s Day, as it was first intended, is an occasion of solemn remembrance and gratitude toward those who have served in out nations military.

In Barrington today, on the corner of Cook and Main Streets, a commemoration was enacted during which many former service members stood at attention, saluted the flag, recited the Pledge of Allegiance and sang the national anthem in the unseasonably bitter cold.

There were a scattering of on-lookers who stood on the curbs and watched the ceremony unfold, joining in when it was appropriate and watching when the rituals of unfurling the flag, the 21 gun salute and the playing of taps.

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Barrington Village President Karen Darch attended and expressed gatitude to the assembled men.  Military Chaplain, Harry Richter offered up prayers for those currently in a field of battle and those who left their lives on foreign fields during decades of warfare.

Many of the veterans wore pieces of their uniforms, their caps announcing in which war they offered up their greatest sacrifice with honor, courage and commitment: Korea, Vietnam, WWII, names from history class for some, but still vivid memories for the silver-haired former warriors.

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“I’m just keeping out of trouble,” said Ted Carr, a veteran of WWII.  “I knew there were some here I might know.  I came to see my pals.” 

Ce Ce Shneider came out in remembrance of her husband who served at Wake Island soon after the attack on Pearl Harbor that plunged our country into WWII. 

“They were attacked four hours after they attacked Pearl Harbor.  They held off the Japanese for about 16 days.  They were overpowered and they spent three years and nine months in Japanese slave labor camps,” she said.   

“I love these veterans,” she added.  “They’re number one and I can’t do enough for them.”

Cynthia Daer and Ann Wynn flanked Korean Veteran, Earl Gilly, who joked about stepping out on his wife with the much younger women before joining the ranks of his fellow veterans.

The veterans participating, equaled or outnumbered the on-lookers, but when the opportunity to place a small flag near the Military Monument on the site, about six people stood and placed the stars and stripes in memoriam.

The ceremony lasted about ten minutes and after it was completed, the ranks dispersed, packed up their rifles and folded their flags, some making their way home with canes and walkers having dedicated another day to their country.

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