PETERBOROUGH — White crosses at the Memorial Gates marked the sacrifice of each Peterborough serviceman who died while serving our country.

Peterborough native Barbara Blanchette Hanson tried to hold back tears as she read the names of the fallen Peterborough military who died in the Korean and Vietnam wars to present day conflicts at the American Legion Cheney-Armstrong Post 5 observance of Memorial Day.

The first name she read was Charles C. Blanchette Jr., her brother who died while serving on the frontlines in Korea.

Each year she rides in the Memorial Day parade, preceding the observance, to honor and remember him, she said.

Jocklyn Armstrong Carter of Long Island read the names of those who died while serving in World War II including her father, John “Jock” Armstrong, who died shortly before her birth.

As the first Peterborough resident killed in World War II the Peterborough-based American Legion Post 5 is named in part for him.

Carter was named after his nickname “Jock,” she said.

During the parade, World War II Marine veteran Joseph Brennan of Peterborough served as parade marshal.

Brennan left home at 17 to join the Marines, said Wayne Thomas, American Legion Post 5 Commander.

He was sent to Japan shortly before the war ended and fought at Saipan, Tinian Island and Okinawa. After the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki and peace was signed with Japan, Brennan's unit landed in Nagasaki, garnering veterans like him the name Atomic Veterans, Thomas said.

World War II Army veteran Donald Carle of Peterborough was awarded the Post's American Legion Cane during the Memorial Day observance. Carle also fought in Japan shortly before the war ended and was stationed there after peace was met.

U.S. Navy Reserve Commander Carl Johnson of Greenfield was the guest speaker at the observance.

“During this holiday it is our solemn duty to remember those who served us; the ones who died, but also just as important, those who served and came home, and the families of both,” Johnson said. “And while we remember and honor their service, we should also reflect on our own duty to advance the gift of freedom made possible for us.”

Johnson is assigned to the U.S. Fleet Forces Command, Maritime and Air Operations.

He recently completed a tour as the Foreign Delegation Lead, Department of Defense Detainee Policy liaison, in which he was responsible for advancing the repatriation or resettlement of detainees held in Guantanamo Bay in Cuba.

He is the co-owner of Ames Financial Planning in Peterborough. He lives in Greenfield with his wife and two children.