Most Westporters watch the Memorial Day parade for a specific reason: to see their tuba player. Their Indian Guide. Their Democratic Woman of Westport.
And the military flyover is way cool.
At 94 years old, he’s been a lawyer long enough to have participated in some of Westport’s most important cases. As a World War II vet, he epitomizes everything Memorial Day is supposed to be about — and it’s not cookouts and clambakes.
Two days after Pearl Harbor — already working for a Westport law firm — See tried to enlist in the Marines. He was turned down because of poor eyesight, but his perseverence landed him a spot in the Army’s Counter Intelligence Corps.
In the Pacific, working out of General Douglas MacArthur’s office, he helped interrogate captured Japanese soldiers.
After 2 1/2 years, See finally came home. He saw his newborn son for the 1st time. Ready to return overseas — and facing possible death, in the much-feared invasion of Japan — he had a final dinner in New York with Hereward Wake, the man who later became his law partner.
Word came: The Japanese had surrendered.
In the 64 years since then, See has served Westport with distinction. He worked on housing affairs, veterans issues and much, much more.
On Monday we’ll get a chance to honor Ed See, as a military veteran and a veteran Westporter. He’ll be the grand marshal riding in a fire truck. Take time out from watching your soccer player, your drummer, your Shriner.
Give it up for Ed See. For longer than most of us have been alive, he’s given of himself for us.