Barbara Lawlor, Nederland.  Usually the Carousel of Happiness animals prance around their circle in a joyous, lighthearted manner. They seem to smile although their lips are painted in place.

On Monday, Memorial Day, the zebra, the St. Bernard, the goose and most of the carousel menagerie looked solemn, sad, as they trudged slowly round and round. There was no music. Only the occasional groan of the machinery as the carousel critters inched forward, riderless, with people standing silently along the rail, looking within themselves.

It was the eighth annual Carousel of Happiness Memorial Day Observance, a time for veterans, for families and friends of veterans who died in battle, to pay tribute to those who fought for our country. It was an opportunity for them to give names and ranks, to put their loss into words that were heard and understood by others.

The Carousel of Happiness was brought to life by Nederland resident Scott Harrison, who was a Marine during the Vietnam War. The gift of a music box playing Chopin’s “Trietesse,” helped him focus on peace rather than war and he decided that when he could, he would build a Carousel, a peaceful, happy place. He moved to Nederland and began carving one-of-a-kind whimsical animals out of wood.

In 1986, Harrison purchased the frame of the Saltair Carousel in Utah and brought it to Nederland where he began 26 years of bringing it back to life, in honor of two friends, fallen veterans. In 2010, the circular trip in memory of all veterans took its maiden journey and has become a tradition on Memorial Day.

This past Monday, the ceremony began with a presentation of the flags by Nederland Cub Scouts Pack 170 who led the Pledge of Allegiance. Then, the microphone was passed from person to person, giving them the time to honor their loved veterans who have died.

The Cub Scouts handed a flower to each person who spoke. Many of those who spoke thanked Scott and the carousel for the ceremony and the opportunity to publicly recognize those veterans.

Army veteran Dennis Kerr played Taps and the memorial attendees were invited to climb aboard and take a free ride in remembrance of those who died in service to America.

The goose, the St. Bernard and the zebra returned to their normal joyous pace, a smile once again lighting up their faces.

(Originally published in the May 31, 2018, print edition of The Mountain-Ear.)