BRATTLEBORO — Richard Hodgdon, commandant of the Marine Corps League, Brattleboro Unit 798, and a decorated Marine Corps veteran who served in the Vietnam War, has served as the master of ceremonies for the annual Memorial Day service for the past several years.
But Monday was the first time that Hodgdon had the honor of introducing his son as the keynote speaker for the service.
Lt. Col. Scot Hodgdon, an Army aviator who has served for nearly 20 years and recently wrapped up a tour of duty in Iraq, said that he was “humbled and privileged” to speak to his hometown, and talked about the tremendous support that he and his fellow soldiers have received from not only his hometown, but from strangers he has never met.
“I cannot even begin to describe the level of support my unit received from middle schools, churches, and manufacturers from across the country, not to mention the tremendous generosity, kindness, and prayers from local support groups, such as the Yellow Ribbons,” he said. “It touched the hearts of every one of the 140 soldiers assigned to the Forward Operating Base that I was stationed at in Basra.”
He noted the “overwhelming level of unconditional support” for those fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan, and said that “it has not always been that way for our veterans,” an allusion to the experience that Vietnam-era veterans, such as his father, went though when they returned home.
Lt. Col. Hodgdon stressed how important that unconditional support has been for the people serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.
“The support from your family, friends, and fellow Americans is what will get you through the most challenging and difficult situations,” he said, “Even when it is 140 degrees, [and you're] wearing 45 pounds of body armor and gear, and the air is filled with black smoke from distant fires, a letter of support or care package can motivate you to never quit.”
He praised the professionalism and dedication of the people in the military today.
“Our nation's military remains the most lethal fighting force in the world,” he said. “This awesome capability does not come cheap. Our forefathers paid a high price, and we continue to pay that high price today. The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have consumed our nation's precious resources for over a decade.
“The honest truth is that these are difficult times, and many would argue that our military is overstretched and that we may not know the long-term affects of the last decade for many years to come. But is it really any different than where we've been as a nation many times before?”
But, he said, “the good news is that our soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines have the best equipment and training available, and our enemy is no match for them in head-to-head combat,” adding that “there is no doubt in my mind that we will prevail.”
Lt. Col. Hodgdon had difficulty getting through his speech at a couple of points. Afterward, both he and his father agreed that they underestimated the emotion of the moment.
“It's the first time he's been home at this time of the year,” Richard Hodgdon said.
About 200 people attended the service on the Town Common, which included the music from the American Legion Post 5 Band and representatives and auxiliaries from Post 5, VFW Post 1034, and the Marine Corps League.