Rev. David Franks, pastor at the Clifton Lutheran Church, and Rev. Dennis Calhoun, senior minister at the Old North Church, will be the main speakers as Marblehead marks Memorial Day this Monday, May 27.
Franks will be the primary speaker at Memorial Park. Franks was born and raised in Philo, a small town in Illinois. He attended Luther College in Decorah, Iowa and Wartburg Seminary in Dubuque, Iowa.
After being ordained in 1974, he served Christ Lutheran Church in Nauvoo, Ill., until he entered the Air Force chaplaincy in February of 1978. He spent 20 years as a chaplain for the U.S. Air Force, serving tours in Florida, Korea, New Mexico, Japan, Germany and Massachusetts.
Franks received decorations, including the Korea Defense Medal, the Air Force Commendation Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster and the Meritorious Service Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters. He retired from active duty in 1998 and was called to the pastorate at Clifton. In 2003, he was awarded a master?s degree in history from the Harvard Extension School.
Franks and his wife, Lynda, have been married for over 40 years and have two children, Luke and Amy, and three grandchildren.
Calhoun, the principal speaker at the Waterside Cemetery, served churches in New Milford and Middlebury, Conn., prior to coming to Marblehead. He has acquired degrees from the University of Missouri-St. Louis, Yale Divinity School and Princeton Theological Seminary. Calhoun?s father worked as an Air Force chaplain while Calhoun was young, so some of his childhood years were spent on bases, explained Veterans Agent David Rodgers, who is heading up the planning for this weekend?s events.
Calhoun is also a retired Fire Department chaplain and has served as senior minister at the Old North Church, United Church of Christ in Marblehead, since September of 2007. He and his wife Susan live in Marblehead and have two grown daughters, Elly and Abby.
John Ciccone will serve as honorary grand marshal of Monday?s parade. Ciccone served in the U.S. Navy during World War II, in Korea and in Vietnam.
In addition to attending Monday?s events, Rodgers encouraged Marblehead residents to head to Waterside Cemetery at 9 a.m. Saturday to assist with placing flags on veterans? gravesites.
?I think that it gives Memorial Day more meaning for the people,? Rogers said of the grave flagging.
Grave-flagging volunteers should meet at the Waterside Cemetery Bell Tower at 9 a.m.
On Sunday the 26th, there will be a 1 p.m. service at Star of the Sea Cemetery.
On Monday the 27th, the annual Clark Landing service to honor veterans who served and died at sea will start the day at 8 a.m. and proceed to the annual Memorial Day parade, which will muster at Old Town House at 9 a.m. The parade will head up Pleasant Street off of Washington, making its way to Memorial Park to hear Franks? remarks. The parade will pick back up and head to Waterside Cemetery for Calhoun?s address.
?Marblehead is a very patriotic town; it dates back to historic times. Many men gave their lives, so it?s important to remember them and all who have given us service, even those still alive today,? said Rodgers.
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