Proud village still marches in memory of Japan's surrender

Waterbury Republican-American ^ | August 13, 2008 | Jim Moore

[Graybeard58]

MOOSUP — It was a celebration of service, a parade that drew thousands to this small village in northeast Connecticut as it has for 47 years running.

The annual V-J Day parade, a tradition organized and maintained by American Legion Post 91, is not threatened by protest, though it is among the last organized events in the country to unabashedly celebrate the Aug. 14, 1945, surrender of Japan, which brought World War II to an end.

Archie Lapierre, chairman of the parade committee, said he has heard only one voice of protest since he joined the committee in 1967, and the ill feeling of that lone protester was deflected by an explanation that the point of the exercise was patriotism, and "to honor the men who came home, and also remember those that did not."

Scores of children stood with hands on hearts and flags in hand as the veterans, firemen and reenactment groups marched by. Parents spoke of history lessons, community pride, and pride in the military which runs deep here.

"This is one of the most patriotic parades we march in," said Bill Schmidt, 47, a member of the Paul C. Houghton Detachment of the Marine Corps League in Danielson. "We've done it in 100-degree heat and we've done it in pouring rain. It's well worth it."

Cindy Reynolds, who grew up in Moosup, sat on the sidewalk with her husband and two young children.

Blake Reynolds, 6, saluted with his hand on his heart as another American flag passed by.

"I want them to learn to respect these people, and realize what these people have done for us," Reynolds said.

Saluting the flag and respect for soldiers past and present are part of the curriculum in local schools in this village of about 3,200 people, said Debbie Day, an elementary school paraprofessional.

Her granddaughter, Aleika Bosker, 5, waved a flag as the Moodus Fife and Drum Corps passed with a flourish of drums and a musket shot that spread a cloud of cordite smoke over the crowd, drawing cheers.

"People hold their hand over their heart," said Charlie Gallagher, who marched with fellow members of the Military Order of the Purple Heart and was among few World War II veterans who still made the mile-long trek on foot. "You don't see that very often."

It is simple economics, Lapierre said, that puts this tradition at risk. While 100 units marched in Sunday's parade in a 90-minute journey down Route 14 past crowed lawns and sidewalks, Sunday's parade was "a little smaller" than the 2007 edition, Lapierre said.

"The economy has a lot to do with it. We've got to try different fundraisers," Lapierre said. Committee Treasurer Roy Pierce clutched a bag of checks, noting that some of the invited music groups did not attend, and therefore there would be a little of the $13,000 budget left for next year.

"What money we have, that's what we hire," Pierce said.

The veterans who marched or rode on the long line of floats included many who recall with perfect clarity the day Japan surrendered following two atomic bomb strikes.

Tommy Mazzarella, a Marine who served in World War II and Korea, was in Guadalcanal, preparing to continue the fight. Gallagher was recovering in New Guinea from a grenade blast that nearly took his life during the invasion of the Philippines. John Wakely was playing softball on Okinawa when word came that the atomic bomb had been dropped.

"It didn't end the game, but I don't know how the game ended," Wakely, 83, recalled with a smile. "It made you feel good. Everybody thought that (invasion of Japan) would be the end of us."

Time is now their only enemy.

Arthur Coelho, 83, sat in a lawn chair, his hand rising to his brow in a salute to passing sailors from the submarine base in Groton. Alzheimer's disease has not yet robbed him of the date, June 4, 1944, when his destroyer escort, USS Pillsbury, helped capture the German U-505 off the coast of Africa.

It was the Navy's first capture of an enemy warship on the high seas since the 19th century, according to the Navy Historical Center, and it yielded code books and equipment which helped complete the cracking of German codes.

"I think (the parade) should be done through the whole nation, I really do," said Cecilia Coelho, his wife. "Because, let's face it, they forget about the World War II guys."

This village, part of the town of Plainfield, is nearly the last outpost in the country marking V-J Day. Seymour, Ind., also held a parade Sunday, likely the only other event of its kind.

Rhode Island celebrated Victory Day as an official state holiday Monday, though the parades have ceased to march there.

"There's so much support that" we want to continue, Lapierre said. "We want to make the 50th."

"It will be tough next year," said Pierce, who has balanced the books for 30 years. "We'll see you next year, maybe."

[Graybeard58]

As it has for nearly half a century, Moosup's annual VJ Day Parade drew a crowd Sunday. (Jim Moore/RA)

 

[RaceBannon]

In Rhode Island, August 14 is a state holiday

[Vigilanteman]

This town must be an American enclave in Communist occupied New England. There might be surprised to know that there are many Japanese who celebrate V-J Day, at least in their hearts.

My former landlord is one. He told me that Japan was blessed to be defeated by America. He said things would never had turned out as well for them if they'd won the war.

[2nd Bn, 11th Mar]

Is this the same place where an old 40’s & 50’s ballplayer, Walt Dropo, was from? I believe they called him ‘Moose from Moosup’.