VIDEO: Memorial Day already underway in Bristol

'Honor Chair' dedication, flag folding demonstration kick off town's celebration

By Patrick Luce
Posted 5/26/17

Members of the Bristol VFW officially kicked off Bristol's celebration of Memorial Day with the dedication of an "Honor Chair" in Town Hall, followed by a flag folding demonstration for students at …

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VIDEO: Memorial Day already underway in Bristol

'Honor Chair' dedication, flag folding demonstration kick off town's celebration

Posted

Members of the Bristol VFW officially kicked off Bristol's celebration of Memorial Day with the dedication of an "Honor Chair" in Town Hall, followed by a flag folding demonstration for students at Colt Andrews School.

Designed to remind residents about the sacrifices made by American military members, the chair remains perpetually empty, giving a permanent seat to all Prisoners of War, soldiers Missing In Action, and those who have died overseas defending the country.

VFW member Gerry Payette led the dedication at Bristol Town Hall Friday afternoon. The chair will remain near the entrance to Town Hall, outside the Town Administrator's office.

"The Honor Chair is intended to remind people of the POW/MIA issues," Mr. Payette told a packed Bristol Town Hall, occasionally pausing to choke back tears. "Folks who will enter this Town Hall can pause and reflect on the sacrifices of members of our American military who never made it back home due to hostil engagement with the enemy."

Korean War veteran Jim Leal, 85, an Army medic who earned the Bronze Star after surviving the infamous “Pork Chop Hill” in Korea, delivered the keynote address at the dedication.

"Because of the people that died in my company," Mr. Leal started to say before stopping to hold back emotions. "As we get a little older, we get a little more sentimental. We left so many friends over there. The chair of honor is one thing I've been looking for ever since I got home — and I was fortunate enough to make it home when others weren't — I was looking for something and doing what I could for veterans. The chair of honor is ideal. It reminds me and the people that the people I left behind in my company. I had personal friends who didn't come home. Memorial Day is probably the most important day of my life because I think of the people I left behind. And the chair gets us to see that it's not an easy thing that we had people who never made it home."

After the dedication, the VFW members headed to Colt Andrews, where they were greeted by the school chorus singing the National Anthem and other patriotic songs. Young students told the history of Memorial Day — originally called Remembrance Day, one student taught the audience — and fifth grader Abby Bratsos recited the Gettysburg Address delivered by President Abraham Lincoln.

VFW Commander Karl Antonevich and Mr. Payette demonstrated the 13 steps of a proper flag folding while another VFW member explained the meaning behind each of the 13 folds. Watch the video above of the flag folding, and check back with eastbayri.com for full coverage of the Honor Chair dedication and Memorial Day ceremonies Monday.

Memorial Day

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