Mignogna reflects on Memorial Day
Mayor’s Message: Michael Mignogna
The first Memorial Day dates back to the Civil War era, when a group of Southern women decorated the graves of soldiers from both the Confederate and Union armies who died in battle. The first national memorial observance was in May 1868.
In 1873, New York was the first state to legalize the holiday and by 1890, all the Northern states celebrated Memorial Day on May 30.
In 1971, the observance date was changed to the last Monday in May.
Memorial Day evokes different feelings in all of us. For many, it is the unofficial beginning of summer. For others, it is a day for barbecues, picnics and parades.
For all, it should be a day to honor those Americans who gave their lives for our country.
For me, Memorial Day holds a memory I have shared in this column before. The story bears repeating.
Larry Virgilio was my friend. He lived down the street in the Fairview section of Camden where I grew up. Even though he was older than me and most of my other friends, he always seemed to find time for us.
He was usually the steady quarterback in our football games on the Yorkship Schoolyard.
I was only eight years old. My mind was focused on playing ball, riding bikes and watching cartoons. The Vietnam War was not a concept I could comprehend. When Larry left to fight for our country in Vietnam, I assumed he would be home soon.
In the summer of 1967, like all other summers growing up, my family rented a home for the week in Wildwood.
Some of my most vivid childhood memories occurred in Wildwood, most of them fond. But one vacation morning I walked into the kitchen to find my mom and dad sitting at the table, tears falling from my mother’s eyes with a newspaper in her hand.
She told me that my friend, Larry, had been killed in Vietnam at the tender age of 25.
Suddenly, the concept of war took on a whole new meaning.
In 1988, I made my first visit to the National Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. Seeing The Wall for the first time was quite an emotional experience. Some visitors knelt in prayer, some left tokens of remembrance while others sketched the names of their loved ones on to a piece of paper. I walked slowly along the memorial and, on Panel 23E Line 117, the name Lawrence J. Virgilio was etched into the black granite.
Though only .53 inches in height, the letters spoke volumes.
I sketched my friend’s name on a small piece of paper and mailed it to his family. I included a note assuring them that Larry was still in my thoughts and that I was honored to be the friend of a true hero.
Larry’s late brother, Nick Virgilio, was a world-renowned Haiku poet. Following Larry’s death, Nick dedicated much of his poetry to the memory of Larry and other fallen heroes:
“flag-covered coffin:
the shadow of the bugler slips into the grave”
“my gold star mother
and father hold each other and the folded flag.”
• The Annual Kirkwood Memorial Day Parade will begin at 11 a.m. at the Carriage House Restaurant and end at the war memorial on Burnt Mill Road adjacent to the Kirkwood Fire Station. There will be a memorial ceremony at 11:30 a.m. with refreshments following. Special thanks to Terri and Vaughn Vandegrift for their help in organizing and sponsoring this unofficial start of summer in our community. Join us in honoring those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.
• The Voorhees Town Center Farmers Market will be held every Saturday through Oct. 27 from 8 a.m. to noon at the special events plaza outside the entrance to town hall. The market features Jersey fresh fruits, vegetables, pasta, honey, wine and much more from vendors throughout the Delaware Valley.
