Exeter’s salute to the fallen: Korean War vet Joe Kenick Jr. leads Memorial Day honors

EXETER — Lifelong resident and Korean War veteran Joe Kenick Jr. will be the grand marshal at this year’s Memorial Day parade, leading the town’s commemoration to honor the fallen.

Known as the state’s capital during the Revolutionary War, Exeter is regarded by many as a patriotic town, showcased through the American Independence Museum downtown, as well as the recent effort by a resident to create a pocket park to honor the town’s Black soldiers who fought in the Revolutionary War.

“We like to honor people for their service and their commitment to our community,” said Florence Ruffner, organizer of the parade.

Ruffner, who’s been the parade's organizer for nearly a decade, said the committee selects veterans who have contributed immensely to the community as the grand marshal. Kenick also served as the grand marshal in 2018.

“I just felt it was very important for Joe (Kennick Jr.) this year with his health issues, and we want to honor him because he’s been so much a part of (the community),” she added.

Described as a “patriot,” “people-person” and “outgoing,” Kenick Jr. joined the U.S. Army right out of high school and trained at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, to be a parachute jumper. He served six years from 1956 to 1962 with the 82nd Airborne Division and spent 15 months in Korea during the Korean War.

After his active years, Kennick Jr. found another way of serving his brothers- and sisters-in-arms.

When the Department of Defense stopped paying for buglers to play at military funerals, Kenick Jr. joined Buglers Across America as a volunteer to help ensure that no armed services member would be laid to rest without a formal playing of Taps at his or her funeral.

"It’s the last honor we can give any veteran,” Kenick said in a 2018 interview.

Over the past 20 years, Kenick has played taps as far away as Arlington National Cemetery at the Korean War Memorial for a Veterans Day event.

Ruffner said students from Exeter High School will also play taps at the parade as a way not only to honor fallen soldiers but also as an ode to Kennick Jr.’s past services.

Kenick is also a former commander of the American Legion Post 32 in Exeter and former president of the Exeter Sportsman's Club.

Why Memorial Day is so important to Exeter

Retired Navy Capt. John Dal Santo, who has been a volunteer of the parade since 2016, said the purpose of Memorial Day is about respect and a reminder that we owe a debt of gratitude to soldiers who gave their lives for our freedom. His 30 years of service included stints in "combat zones" including Iraq, Afghanistan, Horn of Africa (Somali Peninsula) and Darfur in western Sudan.

“We owe these people our lifestyle,” he said.

“These are the people that paved the way for us,” added Ruffner.

Dal Santo said he’s seen a “consistent effort” within the town to honor the past.

“It’s very important that we don’t forget what made America great, the sacrifices.”

Ruffner, who took on the responsibility of organizing the parade nearly a decade ago, said the event used to be “very minimal.” Throughout her involvement, she said she has been able to recruit help from the public to “ramp it up a bit,” which also included drafting her granddaughter, Lizzie, who drives the Daughters of the American Revolution in a vehicle during the parade.

The parade, which will take place Monday, May 27, will start with a ceremony at Swasey Parkway at 10 a.m. and then march along Front Street to Gale Park, where there will be guest speakers and a flag ceremony.

Dal Santo said the ceremonies will conclude in the Exeter Cemetery, which is a “key portion” of the event. A recording of the Memorial Day services will be made by Exeter TV and can be viewed on Channels 22 and 6 as well as their YouTube Channel later in the week.

Ruffner said the Memorial Day parade has become an Exeter tradition, that will continue for years to come because "we have a lot of patriots” in town.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Exeter Memorial Day parade: Korean War hero to lead procession