Connecticut Line CTSSAR - REPORT - Westbrook, CT Grave Marking Ceremony

I want to thank all Connecticut Line members that helped with this grave marking.

We had Webb's 7th, the 9th and one at large.

It was a great success as you can read for yourself from the letter we got from Compatriot Lay at the bottom of my report.
 
Let us also thank Captain Bruce Cunard for his patriotic service in the best branch of all, The United States Navy!
 
You may be able to tell I was a Navy Man myself, it was, if I can remember, during the War of 1812?
 
Of course, we did not have the fancy subs like they have now.
We used an old bath tub, turned it upside down and you would hold your breath.
 
List of CT Line members that participated.

     Harry Clarke, Col. Webb's 7th CT Regt.
     Dan Dudley, Col. Webb's 7th CT Regt.
     Bob Lasprogato, 9th CT Militia Regt.
     Bob Rivard, At-large
     Jim Rothgreb, Col. Webb's 7th CT Regt.
     Tyler Smith, Col. Webb's 7th CT Regt.
 
The weather was improving from a solid rain to showers, later it improved rapidly to an overcast sky and a seasonably cool day.
 
I arrived at 1:45 to find Compatriot Lay and his brother at the grave site, the other members of the Connecticut Line soon followed.
 
We reviewed the various tasks to be done and jointly decided on a course of action to arrive at the best possible outcome.
 
I recommended that we take the flags down the outside of the grave yard and march in with the flags first and muskets behind, this we did.
 
The colors were placed and the muskets were over to the side so as to be able to do an about face and fire a salute away from the crowd, this we did.
 
Speaking first was Compatriot C. Francis Lay followed by the pledge of allegiance and the benediction.
 
There were about 5 speakers including myself and Bob Rivard. After Bob Rivard spoke I was asked to introduce the members of our team. I suggested to Compatriot Lay that it might be better to allow the individual members to come up to the podium, introduce themselves and give a comment, this we did.
 
As the weather continued to improve I decided to go ahead and have the salute after the marker was uncovered,  just prior to taps being played.
 
We then retired the colors and marched back out and down the outside of the grave yard retracing the same steps we had taken earlier. We later returned to pickup the spent cartridges.
 
Bob Rivard, Bob Lasprogato and I followed the family over to the Westbrook Historical Society for refreshments and to pose for a photo.
 
After the photo was taken it was about 5 pm so we thanked Compatriot Lay for the opportunity to assist him and wished him a safe trip home.
 
I have included several photos for your review. I copied them from a PDF file that was sent to me by Compatriot Lay, they have been enhanced and converted to JPG file format. Please let me know if you need any further information.

Respectfully Submitted,

Dan Ellis Dudley
Corporal & Acting Commander Webb's 7th Regiment
Connecticut Line CTSSAR
908-391-0868