Telegraph photo by DEAN SHALHOUP Steve Ibanez, a member of Nashua VFW Post 483, and Roger Matthews, a Vietnam veteran and member of Nashua's James E. Coffey American Legion Post 3, salute after placing a wreath at the base of the statue of Civil War General John G. Foster, a Nashua native for whom Foster Square is named. A group of men and women, including members of the Nashua High School North and South ROTC, held similar ceremonies at four different Nashua locations this morning in tribute to Memorial Day. (Telegraph photo by DEAN SHALHOUP)

NASHUA – Umbrellas were as much a part of Nashua’s Memorial Day observances this morning as were the ceremonial rifles and the bugle on which veteran Barney Barbera played Taps.

Several towns in Greater Nashua also held events and ceremonies to mark the annual holiday, which got its start in the Civil War era as Decoration Day.

In Nashua, veterans representing the James E. Coffey Post 3, American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 483, and Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Post 7 were joined by about a dozen members of the Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC), which includes Nashua High School North and South students.

The group began its succession of ceremonies in Foster Square, next to the statue and monument honoring General John G. Foster, the Civil War officer from Nashua.

As they did at each of the four locations, VFW member Steve Ibanez and Vietnam veteran Roger Matthews, a Coffey Post member, placed a ceremonial wreath at the base of the monument then stood back and saluted as VFW members fired the rifle salute.

Telegraph photo by DEAN SHALHOUP Steve Ordway, a Vietnam veteran and past commander of James E. Coffey Post 3, Americal Legion, gets some help with shelter from this morning's showers as he reads a prayer during a Memorial Day ceremony at Gilbert Dumais Field at Atherton Park. Behind him are some of the members of the Nashua High School North and South ROTC who took part in the ceremonies. (Telegraph photo by DEAN SHALHOUP)

Past VFW Commander Steve Ordway, protected by an umbrella, led the group in prayer. Vietnam veteran Barney Barbera, the chairman of the Mayors Veterans Council, concluded each of the ceremonies with a rendition of Taps.

From Foster Square, the contingent formed a caravan down Lock Street and onto Atherton Avenue, for the next ceremony at Gilbert “Lefty” Dumais Field at Atherton Park.

The field, where Dumais, who lived nearby on Lock Street and was a standout player on the Ward 3 entry in the Ward Leagues, was dedicated to Dumais a number of years ago.

A 1949 Nashua High graduate, Dumais was just 18 when he was killed in action in Korea, several months after he enlisted in the U.S. Army and was sent overseas.

He is believed to be the first Nashuan killed in action in the Korean War.

Telegraph photo by DEAN SHALHOUP Roger Matthews, right, a Vietnam veteran and member of Nashua's James E. Coffey American Legion Post 3, and Steve Ibanez, a member of Nashua VFW Post 483, place a ceremonial wreath at the Atherton Park memorial for Gilbert "Lefty" Dumais, a Nashua soldier killed in Korea, during one of four similar Memorial Day ceremonies this morning in Nashua. (Telegraph photo by DEAN SHALHOUP)

The other ceremonies took place at the memorial site at Woodlawn Cemetery, Kinsley Street; and Constitution Plaza, corner of Main Street and Medical Center Drive, opposite Southern New Hampshire Medical Center.

Dean Shalhoup may be reached at 594-1256 or dshalhoup@nashuatelegraph.com.

Telegraph photo by DEAN SHALHOUP Members of the Nashua High School North and South ROTC program, at left, joined representatives of Nashua military and veterans organizations for a rather soggy series of ceremonies in honor of Memorial Day. The group gathered around the statue of Civil War General John G. Foster for the first of four ceremonies. (Telegraph photo by DEAN SHALHOUP)

Telegraph photo by DEAN SHALHOUP Barney Barbera, a member of Nashua's James E. Coffey Post 3, American Legion, and chairman of the Mayors Veterans Council, plays Taps under an umbrella this morning at the memorial for Nashua soldier Gilbert Dumais at Atherton Park. At left is one of about a dozen members of the Nashua High School North and South ROTC program, who took part in the Memorial Day ceremonies. (Telegraph photo by DEAN SHALHOUP)