Brewster Honors Service Members On Memorial Day

BREWSTER – On Monday, residents and visitors stopped by the council on aging to honor the military men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice. Select Board Member Amanda Bebrin hosted the event, which started at noon.

The honor guard, made up of Brewster police officers, firefighters, members of the Brewster VFW Post 9918 and Scouts, was on site to perform ceremonial duties including hoisting the American flag.

Members of the Nauset Middle School chorus and band were in attendance to provide musical support during the ceremony.

David Pranga, executive pastor of the Brewster Baptist Church, started the ceremony with a prayer honoring the service members who were no longer with us. Captain Mary Chaffee, a retired member of the U.S. Navy Nurse Corps and a select board member, spoke of the sacrifices those people made. Chaffee served in the Navy for 27 years, retiring with the rank of captain.

Brigadier General Martin Lucenti closed out the ceremony, speaking about the service members who were not recognized adequately for their sacrifice. He went on to name a few examples, including a soldier whose gravestone was updated to honor his service after many realized it had not been included. Lucenti spoke of how many have fought to honor loved ones or fellow service members who were not immediately recognized.

A trumpeter from the Nauset band sounded “Taps” to end the ceremony.