Many visited Colebrook Cemetery in Whitman where Lt. John R. Fox, a World War II Medal of Honor recipient is buried.

Fox’s widow Arlene was present with his Medal of Honor, bestowed by President Bill Clinton in 1997.

At Colebrook Cemetery a gun salute, made up of color guards from the Whitman V.F.W. Post 697 and the American Legion Post 22, honored the lieutenant with three volleys.

“There are only 12 Medal of Honor recipients in Massachusetts and one of them is 200 feet from the VFW,” new Commander of the V.F.W. Anthony O’Brien said.

Fox was originally from Cincinnati, Ohio. He attended Wilberforce University, graduating with an ROTC commission of Second Lieutenant in 1940.

O’Brien said that Fox met his widow Arlene, from Brockton, when he came to Fort Devens in Mass. before he fought in Italy during World War II.

During the war, Fox called artillery fire on his own position in 1944. After acknowledging the danger, Fox insisted that the adjustment made in order to defeat the attacking soldiers, O’Brien said.

Fox was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross after his death. Seven African-American soldiers had their medals upgraded by Clinton and Fox was one of them.

He was named a recipient of the Medal or Honor more than fifty years after his death.

Fox’s widow Arlene is still alive and lives in Houston, Texas, according to O’Brien. Fox is buried in Whitman because it is where Arlene’s parents lived.

“Memorial Day is a day to remember all those who have gone before us,” Veterans’ Agent Jerry Eaton said. “It is a day to celebrate the guys that have given there lives for us.”

Whitman residents crowded together to watch the annual Memorial Day parade march through the center of town on Monday.

At Town Hall, Harry Blakeman read a poem. He said that he represents the World War II veterans. He pointed to the names on a World War II monument, and said that over two-thirds of the list were his friends and his classmates.

“This holds a special place in my heart,” he said. “It is important to remember what they went through.”

He said that these men were not given the chance to watch their children grow up.

“To me, that would be a big loss, and that is what they gave up,” he said.

War to him did not end when the battle was over.

“There was a lot of suffering that goes on before the end comes,” Blakeman said.

He told the crowd: “Never forget the price they paid so we can be here today.”

During the ceremony, there was a changing of the flags at Town Hall.

Ned Kirby donated a flag to the town that was used at his brother’s and sister’s services.

At the World War I Memorial Arch in front of the fire station, Russell Green said that last week Frank Buckles, of Charlestown, West Virginia, was honored as the last surviving veteran of World War I.

“The torch has been passed to a new generation,” Green said. “I hope we remember those from the past and those serving now.”

Returning to the Colebrook Cemetery, there was a reading of the Gettsburg Address by Whitman-Hanson student Kyle Stokeman. Major Paul Brundige read the “Reflections of a Confederate.”

In the Town Park residents gathered for the “Pledge of Allegiance” and the “Star Spangled Banner.”

“Today is a great day to remember our fallen comrades,” Post Commander Eugene Brundige said. “There was a theme ‘We remember’ and if people forget about it, it goes away.”