Brian Barden of Dublin is grateful for all that he has – his wife of 54 years, Jean; their children Melissa and Jason; plus three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
And he’s lucky that he always loved his work. From 1988 until his retirement in 2017, Barden served as Dublin’s road agent. Before that, he spent two decades fixing cars and trucks at Worcester’s Garage, where AVA Restoration Services now operates next to the police station. He and garage owner Dan Walsh seemed to take care of every vehicle in town and beyond.
Both jobs allowed Barden to use his talents with machines to provide for his family, while serving the community he cherishes.
With Memorial Day just around the corner, Barden reflects on perhaps his greatest fortune — he survived Vietnam. As a member of the Army 87th Engineer Battalion from 1963 to 1966, Barden spent two years building airstrips and bridges and roads in the jungles of Vietnam. Why he made it back when so many others did not left an already-selfless man even more humble and grateful.
When he returned home to New Hampshire in 1967, Barden pledged to remember and honor all who served. For 50 years, he has placed flags on the veterans’ graves in the Dublin Town Cemetery. On the Friday evening before Memorial Day, he will drive up to the greening hillside cemetery to meet fellow Dublin Memorial Day Committee members Didi Staples, Hank and Nancy Campbell and Wayne and Dee Thomas.
With Dublin Lake shimmering below them, and Mount Monadnock rising above, the friends will do what they do every year. Carrying a large bundle of flags, each will fan out across the picturesque cemetery, covering the same section they tended last year and all the years before. They know their sections intimately, and perform their duties with great care.
After the 300 or so flags are placed, the friends will check and double-check each other’s work. Row by row, stone by stone, they will walk all six acres that cradle veterans from the nation’s very first battles up to the most recent veterans buried there.The newer additions include Barden’s friends and neighbors who also used to place cemetery flags and march beside him on Memorial Day.
Barden and his crew are careful not to miss anyone.They know family members check to make sure their loved ones grave received the proper tribute.
“The Revolutionary War. Civil War. The War of 1812. World War I, World War II. Korea. Vietnam,” Barden ticks off all of the wars fought by the veterans buried in the Dublin Town Cemetery. When Barden and his fellow committee members and helpers are satisfied that they completed their mission, they depart before darkness blankets the cemetery.
If he’s lucky, it will be an early night and Barden won’t have any more meetings nor be called out on an emergency. For 52 years, he has served with Dublin’s volunteer fire department, and he has issued fire permits and performed his other forest fire warden duties for a half-century.
Years ago, after placing the last cemetery flag, Barden would drive back to the center of town and lower the flag that flies above Main Street between Town Hall and Yankee Publishing. But more than a decade ago, a spotlight was installed and its beam aimed at the flag, so it could fly day and night.
Before the spotlight, Barden had faithfully raised and lowered the Stars and Stripes every single day since 1973. Each morning at 6:30, he ran the flag up the pole. Before nightfall, he lowered it and stored it in his truck until sunrise.
Since 1968, Barden has begun his Memorial Day ritual at 7 a.m. This year will be no different. He will take his Army uniform from the closet, where it has hung since the last parade, buff the jacket’s brass buttons, polish his belt buckle and spit-shine his shoes.
As he drives to the center of Dublin, Barden looks forward to seeing his fellow veterans, and all the neighbors and supporters who will line Main Street. After the veterans, the marching bands, Scouts and others pass, the spectators will join the procession which ends with a ceremony at the cemetery.
During a recent visit to the cemetery, Barden pointed out the graves of men whom he marched beside for many years: Cless Staples, Peter Shonk, James Cuddihee, General White, Albert Rajaniemi. He misses his friends.
“There were about 60 of us marching for a lot of years. Now we’re about 20,” he said. “We try to get the word out and hope each year that more veterans will join us. We want every veteran to march with us, whether their uniform fits or not. It’s your day. Come out and be proud of it.”
The parade kicks off at 11:15 a.m. from the Yankee Publishing parking lot, and proceeds to the cemetery. At 1 p.m., in front of Town Hall, there will be a special dedication ceremony for the two newly installed bronze plaques, which are honor rolls for veterans of the Vietnam and Korean wars.
All are invited to both the parade and the dedication ceremonies.