FLETCHER CLARK, JR. WAS GRAND MARSHALL OF MEMORIAL DAY PARADE

By Bob Lessard / Commander/Historian,published Gazette June 6,2019

 (Middleboro is celebrating its 350th Anniversary this year, while the Simeon L. Nickerson Post 64 of the American Legion is observing its 100th birthday. From time to time, as part of the dual celebrations, we will be offering biographical sketches of some of our World War 1 veterans. This article looks back at Fletcher Clark, Jr., who was recognized this past Memorial Day as Grand Marshall. Portions of this article can be seen in Middleboro’s 350th free souvenir booklet.)

Returning World War 1 veterans learned by word of mouth and window cards of a special meeting to organize an American Legion Post in Middleboro. The meeting was held on June 23, 1919 according to Middleboro and Post historical documents.

Hand written minutes of that meeting revealed that 80 returning World War 1 veterans attended, which was held in the Pierce Banquet Hall over the Post Office. Colonel William J. Howard of the state’s Executive Committee was present to discuss the formation of the Post.

It was moved and seconded that the group apply for a charter, which was passed unanimously, with fifteen veterans signing the application.

Captain Fletcher Clark, Jr., was elected temporary chairman. A temporary Executive Committee was also formed to draw up by-laws. Named to that committee were Lt. Carl G. Kendall, Lt. Parker H. Kennedy, Lt. Kendrick W. Washburn, Dr. O’Brien and Lt. Ralph Wendall, according to the original notes.

Less than two weeks after forming the new American Legion Post, Fletcher Clark, Jr., was named Grand Marshall of Middleboro’s 250th Anniversary parade held on July 4th. This would be the very first parade which would see Mr. Clark lead as Grand Marshall. He led that parade by foot and continued that tradition for the next 66 years.

Following the parade, the American Legion was named “The Best Entry of the 250th Anniversary Parade” and was presented with a huge silver cup by the Park Theatre. In fact, at the time of the parade award, the new American Legion Post had not yet received a number but, according to Post records, had not yet been named after Sgt. Simeon L. Nickerson.

At the second meeting of the group on July 14, 1919, it was voted to name the organization the Simeon L. Nickerson Post 64 of the American Legion.

Sergeant Nickerson was killed during the war in France on July 23, 1918 under heroic self-sacrificing circumstances with two others of his unit, Corporal Michael J. O’Connell and Private Thomas A. Ryan. The three men were awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for their actions.

DISTINCT TOWN HISTORY

This writer conducted an interview with Mr. Clark, 94, and his secretary Mrs. Muriel Thomas Howard, 79, in January of 1985 for the Middleboro Gazette.

At the time, Plymouth County was observing its 300th Anniversary, and I was interviewing two Middleborough residents setting a milestone themselves.

Mrs. Howard revealed that she was celebrating her 60th year of employment as the legal secretary to Mr. Clark. She started working for his law office in 1926. When it was mentioned in this 1985 interview that this legal team had been together for a combined years 120 years, both seemed surprised.

As those statistical figures are somewhat mind-boggling, Mr. Clark, at age 94, still climbed the 22 steep steps to his second floor office on a daily basis. He offered that he had been doing that for the past 70 years.

During our interview, Mr. Clark, a veteran of World War 1, who served as a field officer in France, told a story about the saying, “his number is up.”

An Army field officer in France during WW1, Mr. Clark told of being in the trenches under constant gas attacks and artillery bombardments. He told this writer that the Germans wrote numbers on the shells which they lobbed at the allies. He claimed the expression ’his number is up” came from that German practice.

After his wartime service, Mr. Clark stayed in Army Reserves as a Major until 1939. When mentioning this in our interview in 1985, when he was 94, he smiled and recounted how he was mustered out because “he couldn’t pass the physical.”

One of his accomplishments, which the long time attorney was especially proud, was the 52 years he served as Town Moderator. In 1984, state and town officials honored his 52 years of service by mounting a special plaque on the podium he had used those many years.

Residents attending current Memorial Day and Veterans Day ceremonies and Selectmens meetings will note that Mr. Clark’s podium is still prominently used during those events.

Mr. Clark’s other achievements include: a 50 year term as director of the Middleboro Trust Company; 50 years as a member of the Peirce Trustees; clerk for 64 years of the Church of Our Saviour; past President of the Middleboro Savings Bank for 25 years and which he retired in 1969 “due”, he said, “to old age.”

Fletcher Clark, Jr., set many personal Middleboro longevity records, while living in Middleborough. As noted above, he was the first Commander of Post 64.

And, according to Jerry Shaw, editor of a 1985 edition of “Nickerson News,” the Post 64 newsletter: “He was the founder of Post 64 and a member for 66 consecutive years. He also led as Grand Marshall of both the Memorial and Veterans Day parade for over 66 years, a parade position he held until the time of his death.” (As noted above, Mr. Clark always walked at the head of those parades as the Grand Marshall the town’s 250th Anniversary on July 4, 1919)

Editor Shaw also reported that Mr. Clark “served Post 64 as the Judge Advocate since 1933 and held this office continuously until the time of his 1985 passing.”

The 1985 edition of the Annual Town Report with a full page photo and a tribute comment printed in his memory: “The Town of Middleboro wishes to express thanks and appreciation to Fletcher Clark, Jr., with affection and esteem for his fifty-two years of faithful service as Town Moderator.”

Also, on the second floor in the Town Hall annex, there is a small plaque dedicated to the many years that Mr. Clark occupied the corner office in that building.