Parade or not, tomb replica makes visit

By Katie Corbitt
Posted 5/31/16

Rain or shine, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers/Parade Committee was determined to make an appearance this Memorial Day. Their high spirits were not extended towards the Warwick Police, …

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Parade or not, tomb replica makes visit

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Rain or shine, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers/Parade Committee was determined to make an appearance this Memorial Day. Their high spirits were not extended towards the Warwick Police, however.

“What, are you afraid of the rain?” retired Marine Dennis Lawton asked. Enthusiastic to carry on, Lawton was riled at the cancellation of the parade, having driven from Fall River for the occasion.

“A little rain doesn’t matter for what they [veterans] did for us,” said City Council President Donna Travis. Those that did make an appearance were determined to show up regardless of the elements.

“I was wringing out the arms of my shirt when I got back in the truck,” said Lawton, who worked with Antonio Taylor to run The Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers committee. “I heard that the police canceled the parade,” Lawton said. “I don’t care. You can wear a badge and carry a gun, it doesn’t mean you respect our fallen.”

Anthony Rodrigues of the Warwick Veterans Council said he made the decision to cancel the parade after a 6:30 phone call with the police chief.

Regardless, Lawton passed out patriotic beanbags that he had made to throw at kids during the parade instead of candy. “They don’t base our patriotism on rain or shine,” Lawton said of those that did show up, “they base it on our fallen.”

Lawton, who served in the Marine Corps from 1973 to 1988, worked the previous summer with Taylor to plan and build the replica of the tomb. Materials with an estimated value of $7,000 were donated by Home Depot for building the replica. The tomb represents all the unknown soldiers who have fallen in service to our country.

“We own that float,” Lawton said. “When we built it, we built it like the exact replica.” The float was driven to Warwick with the purpose of being pulled through the Memorial Day Parade. Offering some history about the tomb, Lawton said the actual tomb, located at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia, is guarded 24/7, 365 days a year with no guard ever leaving his post.

“They actually vacuum their uniforms before they wear them to make sure there’s no dust,” Lawton said, each guard having 20-30 minute shifts. They receive strict training for 9-12 months prior to beginning, Lawton said.

With the decision being made early Monday morning due to the weather, calls were sent out between 6:30 and 7 to those planning to attend of the cancellation.

“When he called, it was pouring cats and dogs,” Rodrigues said of the chief of police.

Rodrigues said they “had to think of the kids…the instruments…it was just ban after ban of rain.” He said he made the decision to cancel.

Nonetheless, Rodrigues and members of the committee showed up at Veterans Memorial High School, where the parade was to have ended. At the same time the replica of the tomb appeared on a trailer.

“Rain or shine, do something and I’m there,” Travis said, more enthusiastic. “For the veterans, I’m there no matter what.”

“I need one favor,” Lawton barked, addressing those present, “for all of them that never came back, I’d like to ask this for all of them.” Rousing the audience with his speech, Lawton said, “It’s a place to maintain four great freedoms: freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of war and freedom from fear.”

“God Bless America” was played, and many present began to sing along as two girls were pulled around in a wagon – the granddaughters of another parade committee member, James Burrows. Lawton brought the girls some flags, and said jokingly, “If I give you the number of the Warwick Police, can you tell them they’re wimps?”

“You want to wait, you wait, at least I know I came,” Lawton said, determined to commemorate our fallen. Soaking wet but seemingly unfazed by the downpour, he said, “It doesn’t matter if it’s ‘monsooning,’ stick these in the dryer, they come out nice and soft.”

“This may be better than the parade,” said Navy veteran Paul Kelly.

Regardless of the rain, those present still made it a memorable event.

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