Text & Photos: Maria Moore
Memorial Day ceremonies in New Hartford are held on the Green at Pine Meadow and at the site of the Congregational Church at the top of Town Hill. This year, both ceremonies were held at 11 a.m. on Monday, May 28, Memorial Day. This meant the NewHartfordPlus crew had to split up, with Bob the techie videotaping the ceremony at Chapin Park and Maria reporting with the traditional tools of the trade – pen, paper and camera – at the Town Hill ceremony. Following is Maria’s report; Bob’s video of the Chapin Park ceremony will be posted as soon as he is able to.
Memorial Day Ceremony On Town Hill
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A small group of about 30 residents gathered this past Monday, Memorial Day, in what had once been the interior of the Congregational Church at the top of Town Hill. The church is no longer there, having been demolished in the 1920s, after its steeple had collapsed during a storm and had punctured its own roof. The “church that stabbed itself” is gone, but its stone steps are there, as is the stone foundation demarcating the periphery of the small structure, and the church bell is hanging where the altar would have been, waiting to sound again across the hilltop, as it still does on rare occasions.
One such occasion was this past Monday, on Memorial Day. Gordon Ross, Town Treasurer, Regional # 7 teacher and a veteran, addressed the small group, and then Paul Pompa was invited to ring the bell to commemorate those who had fallen. Paul did so as he has in years past, ringing the bell once for each of the four Pompa brothers who had served their country in times of war. And after Paul, the bell was rung once more, this time by Anne Hall, to honor not only veterans of wars past, but also the active servicemen and women from this side, as well as from the other side, of the Atlantic.
The ceremony was soon over and the small group dispersed, some to drive away while others to begin their short walk to their homes on Town Hill.
Gordon Ross addressing the small group assembled at the church at the top of Town Hill
Paul Pompa ringing the bell to honor his brothers, all veterans
Anne Hall speaking on behalf of today's servicemen and women on both sides of the Atlantic
Memorial Day ceremony in the former Congregational Church on Town Hill
