Those who gave the ultimate sacrifice in America’s wars deserve something more than even the gratitude, acknowledgement and respect of living Americans, said former First Selectman Jayme Stevenson in the keynote address at Darien’s Memorial Day ceremony.
They and our country deserve to be paid back by our being “willing in our own way to step up and protect the liberty they fought for,” she said.
Stevenson’s speech, before roughly 200 people gathered at the state Veteran’s Cemetery at Spring Grove Cemetery, lasted about seven minutes.
“It’s our duty as beneficiaries of their sacrifice to honor their legacy, not just today but every day,” she continued. “We do this by living our lives worthy of their courage, by protecting the freedoms they fought for and by ensuring that the future generations understand the cost of liberty.
“So as we go forward today, let us remember that Memorial Day is not just a date on the calendar, but a solemn promise to never forget, to always appreciate and to uphold the values that made our nation strong.”
Speakers and members of the town’s Board of Selectmen were on the platform, every one of them people who volunteered their services to the community, and some to their country through military service.
Terry Gaffney, the master of ceremonies again this year, introduced Stevenson, noting that she served as first selectman for a decade. Her husband, John, was raised in town, and the couple raised five children in Darien, so “they are about as Darien as you could possibly be.”
— Here’s the video of the ceremony, as recorded and uploaded by Darien Athletic Foundation.
Text of the Speech
This transcript of the speech as it was spoken doesn’t include a few initial comments noting the people present.
Memorial Day in Darien is so special in many ways. Our parade and this remembrance ceremony are beloved, but this year is even more special as we prepare to celebrate our nation’s 250th birthday.
Many refer to our constitutional republic or democracy as an experiment in self-governance. I see it as a clarion call to vigilantly protect and defend the freedom we hold so dear. The freedom that makes our United States the most compassionate, innovative and successful country on earth.
Former First Selectman Jayme Stevenson gave the keynote address at Monday’s Memorial Day Ceremony.
Memorial Day is a time of remembrance, and for my family that commemoration is deeply personal. My father and his three brothers all served in the U.S. Army during World War II. But for one of them, my Uncle Elmer Jackson, his service came at the ultimate price.
On July 11, 1943, during the North African campaign, he gave his life in the defense of our nation. He was just 22 years old.
The 36th Troop Carrier Squadron was awarded the Distinguished Unit Citation for extraordinary action on a single day the day Elmer died.
I’d like to believe that Elmer felt deeply the sentiment of Alexander Hamilton that there is a certain enthusiasm in liberty that makes human nature rise above itself in acts of bravery and heroism.
For decades my family knew little about the circumstances of Elmer’s death. It was only when my brother, Air Force Academy graduate, F-15 command pilot and retired Col. John C. Jackson III uncovered once-sealed records at the U.S. War College that we learned the full story of Elmer’s sacrifice.
That was a poignant reminder for me that the stories of those who served — especially those who gave everything, must not be forgotten.
But service is not only measured by sacrifice. It’s also measured by resilience.
My father-in-law, Stamford native John Buchanan Stevenson III, served in the U.S. Army Air Force as a B-24 Liberator tailgunner during World War II. Most tailgunners don’t survive more than five missions. He survived 35 missions.
His Scottish stubbornness was likely his key survival trait, and in a beautiful Hallmark movie twist of fate, he later married Charlett Strohlein, a German girl from Hamburg, proving that even after the fires of war, reconciliation and love can triumph. They’re buried side-by-side, just over there, under a tree.
They both loved these stories. The sacrifices, the endurance, the humanity are what make Memorial Day more than just a day of reflection. They remind us of why liberty is so precious and why those who defend it deserve our unwavering gratitude.
And while these stories are treasured memories from my family, they’re not unique. Each of us has stories embedded in our family tree that must be told and retold so the memories of service and sacrifice are not lost to the blur of time.
Liberty, the very foundation of our democracy, is not given; it’s earned and must be safeguarded.
Every flag we see waving today is a testament to the sacrifices of generations past who believed in the ideals of liberty justice and equality. Their courage and sacrifice ensures that we can speak freely, live freely and pursue our dreams with purpose and hope.
Thomas Paine, one of the great voices of the American Revolution, said it best: “Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigues of supporting it.”
His words remind us that liberty is not just an inheritance. It is a sacred responsibility. And part of that responsibility is ensuring that the stories of those who have served, especially those who have made the ultimate sacrifice, live on.
As Terry Gaffney reminds us each year, these heroes were more than the names etched on the stones before you, or the ranks recorded in history. They were fathers, mothers, sons, daughters, our friends, people with dreams and convictions and unwavering bravery.
It’s up to us to pass down their stories to tell the children and our grandchildren about the soldiers who fought, not for glory but for each other. To share the letters they wrote, the battles they endured, the selfless acts that defined their service. Because when we keep their memories alive, we ensure that their sacrifice was not in vain.
It’s our duty as beneficiaries of their sacrifice to honor their legacy, not just today but every day we do this by living our lives worthy of their courage, by protecting the freedom they fought for and by ensuring that the future generations understand the cost of liberty.
So, as we go forward today, let us remember that Memorial Day is not just a date on the calendar but a solemn promise to never forget, to always appreciate and to uphold the values that make our nation strong.
May we always honor the memory of our fallen heroes — be willing to step up and protect the liberty they fought for and to share their stories, ensuring they live on in the hearts and minds of all who follow.
God bless our fallen heroes, our veterans, our police officers who protect us every day, and God b less America, the world’s imperfect yet shining beacon of freedom.
Thank you.