Despite Rain, Cumberland Ceremony Honors Fallen and Gold Star Families

The rain did not stop, but neither did the ceremony.

Inside Cumberland American Legion Post 14 Monday morning, veterans, elected officials, Gold Star families and residents gathered to honor fallen American service members after weather forced the town’s annual Memorial Day observance indoors.

Charlotte Tobin framed military service not only as duty, but as a reflection of the country’s continued democratic evolution and national resilience.

“Though we may not have allowed all people to vote in the days of the Founding Fathers, the inclusivity of modern voting rights is a testament to the American people,” Tobin said.

Tobin later urged attendees to recognize the perseverance that has carried the country through war, division and hardship.

“As a group, we are strong, intelligent and determined enough to achieve anything that we put our minds to no matter the challenge,” she said.

The ceremony centered less on politics or pageantry and more on sacrifice, remembrance and the enduring cost of war carried by military families long after the fighting ends.

Commander Kevin Brunelle repeatedly returned to that theme throughout the morning, speaking directly about the burden carried by Gold Star families and the obligation of communities to remember those who never came home.

The program featured remarks from Chaplain Ted Tobin, Town Council President Michael Kinch, Mayor Jeff Mutter and Lt. Col. Moreau, alongside veterans organizations and local participants.

While Memorial Day ceremonies often lean heavily on patriotism and tradition, Monday’s observance repeatedly focused on loss, particularly the families left behind after war.

Both Tobin and Brunelle spoke directly about Gold Star families and the permanence of their grief, emphasizing that Memorial Day extends far beyond ceremonies, flags and parades.

The emotional centerpiece of the morning came during the closing procession, when Rodney Brunelle performed “Ragged Old Flag” while holding an aging American flag marked by visible bullet holes, drawing a prolonged silence from the crowd as the ceremony concluded.

The observance ended with Rodney performing a Dave Mathews song, “For You,” closing the indoor ceremony on a quieter and more reflective note as rain continued falling outside.

Roughly 150 people attended the ceremony, which was relocated indoors from its traditional setting at the Monastery grounds because of heavy rain.