Monthly Archives: May 2015

Memories of Memorial Day 2015

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Photo by N.B. Logan

It was a perfect day for a parade on Monday in Old Lyme and our little town stepped up to the plate yet again to put on a parade full of not only fun and frivolity, but also pride and patriotism.

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Old Lyme’s leading politicians strode purposefully down Lyme Street.  First Selectwoman Bonnie Reemsnyder (in blue) walks with Selectwoman Mary Jo Nosal (in red), Selectman Skip Sibley ( second from left) and State Representative Devin Carney (R) at left.

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Photo by N.B. Logan

Flags were carried …

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Photo by N.B. Logan

Bagpipes were blown …

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Photo by N.B. Logan

Scouts marched …

... and the band played.

… and the bands played.

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Photo by N.B. Logan

The Lyme firemen were dressed for action …

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Photo by N.B. Logan

… and Teacher of the Year Mary Bradford from Mile Creek School waved and smiled … and smiled and waved …

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Photo by N.B. Logan

The “What Memorial Day Means to Me” essay contest winners traveled in style …

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Photo by N.B. Logan

… while this serving army member stood and waved from the top of a camouflage truck.

Photo by Olwen Logan.

The Daisies were delightful …

Photo by Olwen Logan.

Phoebe Griffin Noyes aka Mary Dangremond proudly participated to remind everyone of the Old Lyme Library’s namesake …

Photo by Olwen Logan

This Lyme Cub Scout confidently led his troop …

Photo by Olwen Logan

Tom Risom was at the head of the Old Lyme Fire Department …

Photo by Olwen Logan

And let’s not forget the reason for the season … our veterans.

Photo by John Ward

Photo by John Ward

In honor of the fallen … the Memorial Stone reads: “To all who served and sacrificed so we could enjoy lasting freedom.” Dedicated by American Legion Post 41, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1467, and the People of Old Lyme, the wreath was moved away and then replaced during the ceremony.

Photo by John Ward

Photo by John Ward

Sharing the moment … Before the ceremony, VFW Chapter 1467 member and U.S. Army Air Corps Maj. Edmund H. Wolcott (Ret.) of Old Lyme (left) speaks with Todd Machnik (right) of Old Lyme.

Photo by John Ward

Photo by John Ward

Helping with the homily … Old Lyme Fire Department Chaplain Mervin F. Roberts delivers the homily.

Photo by John Ward

Photo by John Ward

Saluting the colors … the Old Lyme Fire Department, including the Color Guard, stands proud.

Photo by John Ward

Photo by John Ward

Rounding off the ceremony, Meyer Goldberg of Lyme, Memorial Day Essay Contest silver medal winner, reads his essay beautifully.

Photo by James Meehan Art & Design, ©2015

Photo by James Meehan Art & Design, ©2015

And finally for all you history buffs out there … (text and photo courtesy of James Meehan) this flag was hanging on the former Masonic Hall Building (now a private residence) on Lyme Street during the parade. The curious child lying at the lower left is counting the flag’s stars to find thirty-four. The 34th star represents the state of Kansas, which was the 34th state to be admitted to the Union on January 29, 1861.

Letter to the Editor: Thanks from Lyme Library for Book Sale Help

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To the Editor:

On behalf of the Friends of the Lyme Library, I’d like to thank everyone who came to our Book Sale the weekend of May 16-17. A very special thank you to our incredible volunteers who sorted books all year in the new library basement and helped out during and after the sale.

As always, this year’s event would not have happened without the assistance of several key people and organizations here in town—the Lyme Garden Club; the Lyme Public Hall for the use of their tables; the Lyme-Old Lyme High School Community Service students and their amazing advisor, Heather Fried, for carrying countless boxes of books up from the basement; the Shoreline Soup Kitchens and Food Pantries for the use of their carts for ferrying boxes of books out to the tent; and, of course, the wonderful staff at the Lyme Public Library, who were (and are) always ready to help in any way.

Sincerely,

Anne Clement,
Lyme.
Editor’s Note: The author is the 2015 Book Sale Chair.

Mile Creek School Holds Memorial Day Program, Teacher of the Year Mary Bradford Also Honored

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Mile Creek students sing during the Memorial Day program.

Mile Creek students sing during the Memorial Day program.

The traditional Mile Creek School Memorial Day program was held last Friday. During the program, Roger Haynes, who taught history at Lyme-Old Lyme High School for more than 35 years, spoke to the second and third graders.

He walked the children through the Pledge of Allegiance, clarifying the meaning of the language used so long ago.

Taking flowers to the veteran's graves.

Taking flowers to the veteran’s graves.

The second graders recited Flanders Field, before proceeding to the adjacent cemetery to decorate the graves of local veterans dating back as far as the Revolutionary War.

Roger Haynes presents Mary Bradford with a VFW award for Teacher of the Year.

Roger Haynes presents Mary Bradford with a VFW award for Teacher of the Year.

The members of the Old Lyme Veterans of Foreign Wars presented second grade teacher Mary Bradford with an award for Teacher of the Year.

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Teacher of the Year Mary Bradford (center) stands with the VFW members who came to honor her.

VFW members present at the ceremony were former Old Lyme First Selectman Tim Griswold, Roger Haynes, Bob Whitcomb and Commander William Appleby. Mile Creek Principal Patricia Downes is also in the photo at right.

Deep River Historical Society Hosts Exhibit of Hometown Cartoonist C.D. Batchelor’s, Opens June 6 with Rare Chance to Tour His Home

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Self portrait by C.D. Batchelor.

Self portrait by C.D. Batchelor.

DEEP RIVER — Viewed by millions daily in The New York Daily News and syndicated in 1,000 newspapers across the country, the work of C.D. Batchelor was thought-provoking and challenged the reader to draw his own conclusions.

Batchelor was hired by The New York Daily News in 1931 and his strong, graphic cartoons filled the upper-right columns of the editorial page, seven days a week for the next 25 years. He was the first political cartoonist to win the Pulitzer Prize in 1937 and by 1947 his work was circulated to nearly three million readers.

Funded in part by a grant from the Connecticut Humanities, the Deep River Historical Society invites you to step into his world, view a collection of his work that spanned 40 of the most turbulent years in U.S. history.

The exhibit titled, “Draw Your Own Conclusions: The Political Cartoons of C.D. Batchelor,” will be open at the Stone House of the Deep River Historical Society at 245 Main Street, Deep River on Saturdays and Sundays from 2 to 4 p.m. through the months of July and August.

One of C.D. Batchelor's famous cartoons.

One of C.D. Batchelor’s famous cartoons.

On June 6, a special opening day event will include the rare opportunity to tour the historic 18th century Deep River home of Batchelor. Tickets for this event are $15 and are limited given the capacity of the house. Contact Rhonda Forristall via email at rcforristall@gmail.com or 860-526-5086 for more information about times and availability of tickets for this day.

Connecticut Humanities, a nonprofit affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, supports cultural and historic organizations that tell the state’s stories, build community and enrich lives.

Old Lyme Historical Society Holds First Annual Memorial Day Tag Sale

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The Old Lyme Historical Society is hosting its first annual Memorial Day Tag Sale on Monday, May 25, at 55 Lyme St. in Old Lyme from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Rain date is Saturday, May 30.

Support the mission of the Society to collect, preserve and interpret the rich history of Old Lyme and its environs by picking up some “treasures” at the Memorial Day Tag Sale.