They left the administration building at the State Veterans Cemetery in Boscawen Tuesday at 12:53 p.m. sharp.
They walked in a single file of three – two serving in the Navy, the other, the bugler, retired from the Air Force – along a narrow path, each moving slowly, limbs stiff with purpose, to pay tribute to those killed at Pearl Harbor, 80 years ago on the 7th.
Two minutes later, at 12:55 p.m. sharp here, 7:55 a.m. in Hawaii, retired Air Force Master Sgt. Lee Hirtle of Northfield played taps, mindful that that was the exact time, on Dec. 7, 1941, that Japan launched its surprise attack, plunging the United States into World War II.
Chief Petty Officer Richard MacPartland of Milton and Everett Oakes of Shirley, Mass., held their white gloves in place, saluting, while Hirtle’s face turned beat red and his cheeks puffed outward.
That was a snapshot of respect, a tribute, in some form or another, to those killed on the Day of Infamy. The bombs that exploded that day at Pearl Harbor and the fires that burned and the ships that sank were captured on film.
It’s the sort of image that comes in handy if you begin to take life for granted. Check those old newsreels from that day. You’ll snap back into attention quickly.
“Certainly a big day in Naval history,” MacPartland said, “but it took on additional meaning for myself to see the sacrifice involved, and just being able to be part of that tradition made it so much more meaningful.”
MacPartland was inspired to serve following the Sept. 11 attacks, which occurred a few months after he had graduated from high school. He did three tours in Iraq and one in Afghanistan. He was a hospital corpsman, giving the wounded medical attention on and near the battlefields.
Asked for a specific memory that captured the mood of those dark days, MacPartland paused and paused then paused some more.
“We lost people,” he finally said. “No one I was really, really close to, but there was a handful, and even though we were not really close, it was still very difficult to see that.”
MacPartland joined the Navy fresh out of high school, figuring he’d give it some time, maybe earn money for college. Twenty-plus years later, at 38, he could still pass for a high school senior but says, “I’m flattered, but believe me, I feel every bit of that age.”
Oakes, 48, is an air traffic controller, a skill he learned as a Navy man for eight years in the 1990s. He took time off before choosing to rejoin the Navy. He’s in the reserves and wants to give back, thankful that the Navy allowed him to land a job he loves.
He grew up in Shirley, near a military base. “Fort Devens used to be right there, and there was a lot of military influence around,” Oakes said. “Going into high school I started realizing that (Pearl Harbor Day) was a big deal and there was a lot to unpack there.”
The Day of Infamy is a good day to unpack. Remembrances and tributes and services were held everywhere, adding a sense of unity to a divided country on a really somber day.
At the New Hampshire Veterans Cemetery in Tilton, the residents paused for a moment of silence and watched documentaries about the attack.
At the State Veterans Cemetery, MacPartland and Oakes pulled double duty, serving as Naval ambassadors during two funerals for two Navy men, two individuals who were part of something bigger than themselves.
Held in the chapel before graveside services, one funeral took place in the morning, the other later in the afternoon. In between, at 12:53 p.m., the three men began their slow walk to the three flags – POW, state, American – stationed in the center of the cemetery. That’s where veterans traditionally are honored after they pass on.
Hirtle finished his flawless rendition of taps on this cold day. The three-man military line, the line showing respect on Dec., 7, then moved back into the main building, ready to honor another veteran who had served and died recently.
“We took a moment to recall what happened at Pearl Harbor,” MacPartland said. “And we took the time to honor two others. It was an honor to be here today for both.”