Memorial Day brings a special challenge to members of Barrington’s veterans organizations, for they are committed to visit every cemetery in the entire area where veterans are buried.
On that day, staring at 7:30 a.m. at White Memorial Cemetery on Cuba Road, elderly and middle-aged members of American Legion Post #158 and of VFW Post #7706 gather at the cemetery gates and march in carrying their colors and the Stars and Stripes.
Some have resurrected their uniforms from their service. Now the oldest might be from the Korean War.
A chaplain will offer some prayers and then a flag is placed on the grave of a veteran. Three of the company will step forward, prepare their arms and fire three volleys in salute.
An especially poignant moment is provided by two buglers, frequently students from Barrington High School, echoing each other from the east and west ends of the cemetery playing “Taps.” Sometimes the spring morning is also heralded by a flight of geese overhead, perhaps stirred by the firing of the salute.
Read more from the Barrington Courier-Review here.
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