Commodore Joel Abbot, Camp No. 21

Island Cemetery, Veterans Day 2000 Ceremonies

Island Cemetery Civil War Soldiers and Sailors Burial Plot.

Commodore Joel Abbot, Camp No. 21, Department of Rhode Island, Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War (SUVCW) conducted their Veterans Day Ceremonies on the 11th of November, 2000, at Island Cemetery, Newport, Rhode Island.

Newly elected Commodore Joel Abbot, Camp No. 21 Commander Michael S. Kennedy opened the ceremonies by posting the color guard. This was followed by an opening address, which was taken from the SUVCW Rites and Rituals Booklet for memorial ceremonies. The opening address follows:

Brothers of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, and Friends:

May we fully realize the sanctity of the place and hour; may our conduct give assurance of the sincerity of our purpose and our earnest appreciation of the duties and responsibilities resting upon us as Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War.

Commodore Joel Abbot, Chaplain then performed The Divine Blessing:

Supreme Ruler of the Universe! God of battles and peace! We thank you for this day and hour; for this blessed privilege of meeting here as sons (and daughters) of soldiers and sailors to do homage to a Nation's dead.

We thank Thee that in the day of trouble and the hour of danger Thou in Thy infinite wisdom raised up men who were ready to do battle, and if need be, to die that this country might be preserved. Grant us, we beseech Thee, a continuance of Thy watchful care.

Grant Thy blessing upon these sacred ceremonies, consecrated as they are to the memory of brave and loyal hearts who dared stand for the right and did not fear to bare their breasts to a storm of steel in defense of human liberty, a united country and the brotherhood of man.

Bless our country. Preserve its integrity. Prosper our order. Make it, we pray Thee, an instrument in Thy hands of great good to our country and to Thee, and at last gather us with Thee in the Great camp of Eternity. Hear and answer, we beseech Thee. Amen.

A letter from SPC Daric Buttrick, who is serving in the 94th MP Company stationed at Eagle Base, Bosnia, to his mother:

We got to go on the road for the first time today. It's strange to think about where you are and what you're doing when you're in a place like this. At times the country seems so normal, then you look again and there's half a building there. Old blast marks on the bricks. Bullet holes all over. We went to Sarajevo today and EVERY building was full of old holes. We ride around looking at all of it to get to know why we're here. A car got in between two of the vehicles in our convoy and there were two little kids in the back seat, neither older than five or six. The two of them were facing backwards in the car, facing me. The older one waved and smiled. The younger followed. I waved back and continued scanning the sides of the road. In all of our briefings, we had been warned that it was the little things that were dangerous over here. We had to keep on our toes. Especially turret gunners.

I looked back to the white VW a few seconds later and noticed they were still waving. I waved again. They continued this for almost 20 minutes. As they turned off, the parents honked the horn and waved as well, I was astonished. Here I was, in a new country that has been at war for thousands of years. The cease fire is only five years old. Three factions are ready to erupt at any time. But these people were happy to see me. Me, the faceless soldier in the camouflaged helmet and the dark goggles I wear to keep the sun, rain, dirt and wind out of my eyes as we drive. Me behind the loaded machine gun and with the pistol tucked under my arm. Me with the thick kevlar vest, and the combat knife on my shoulder. But most importantly, what they saw was Me, wearing the U.S. flag on my right shoulder. All day this happened as we drove around, people looked at us and were happy, because they felt safe. For the first time in a long time.

That's why we're here. That's what we do today. That's the reason we leave our families and friends. Because we want to give those little kids a chance to grow up without seeing new bullets make new holes in their bedroom walls. Without seeing their mothers and fathers die because they were in the way of a 3,000 year old grudge match. Don't get me wrong. I don't like doing this, but at least now I know why. And why is a good thing to know. Don't you think?

A reading by Commander Kennedy from the 1911 Grand Army of the Republic Flag Day Program for the Schools of Rhode Island:

Yes, these quiet men who so modestly go up and down your streets like your own fathers; these men whom you would trust your little brothers and sisters; these men in whose hand you would put your own without a thought of war and bloodshed; these men who in coats and hats of blue once a year go to your schoolrooms and salute your flag - these are the very men who left their homes, their wives, and their children, who gave up their businesses, who suffered hunger and thirst, wet and cold, disease and prison, and risked even life itself that your country should still be "one nation indivisible" and that your home should be in very truth, the "land of the free." - Herbert W. Lull, Superintendent of Schools of Newport, 1911

This was followed by Commodore Joel Abbot, Camp No. 21, Patriotic Instructor, Curt Berggren reading "The Unknown Dead" by James E. Ratigan.

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