Voice of Democracy essay winner to deliver Memorial Day keynote

Gold Star family members participated in a wreath laying ceremony on Memorial Day 2023 at the Rhode Island Veterans Cemetery in Exeter. (Courtesy of Rhode Island Office of Veterans Services)

A Westerly teen will be the featured speaker at the state’s 50th Annual Memorial Day ceremony taking place Monday at 1 p.m. at the Rhode Island Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Exeter.

Abiagael Emery, 15, a sophomore at Westerly High School, took first place for Rhode Island in the 2023-2024 Voice of Democracy audio essay competition, a scholarship program sponsored by the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW). Emery, daughter of Tiffinay Antoch and Kevin Emery, will read her essay during the program honoring fallen military service members. 

Emery’s winning essay centers on her grandfather, Albert Antoch, a U.S. Navy veteran now in his 80s, who served on the aircraft carrier USS Essex in the blockade around Cuba during the October 1962 missile crisis. The United States and the Soviet Union were in a tense political and military standoff over the installation of nuclear-armed Soviet missiles in Cuba, just 90 miles from the U.S. coast. While many people feared the world was on the brink of nuclear war, Antoch, who was just 21 years old at the time, told his granddaughter he remembers being confused and had no idea what was going on.

Emery said she asked her grandfather if he would tell her about his military service once she became interested in writing an essay for the Voice of Democracy competition. He was glad to share his story, and she said it made her see her grandfather in a different light.

“I knew my grandfather was in the Navy,” Emery said in an interview. “Not that I didn’t care. It just wasn’t a huge interest point for me.”

“His story is so powerful to me because it’s a direct example of protecting American democracy and the public’s welfare,” she wrote in her essay initially submitted to Amancio-Falcone-Gaccione VFW Post 8955. “The willingness and sacrifice of those involved in the Cuban missile crisis were building blocks to secure what America has built: democracy, freedom, and opportunity.”

The theme of the essay competition changes each year. For Emery and other students entering this school year, it was  “What Are the Greatest Attributes of Our Democracy?” The winning audio essays from each state can be found here.

At Monday’s ceremony, Rhode Island’s congressional delegation and general officers will join in honoring service members, veterans and their families, paying tribute to those who died in the line of duty. The Rhode Island National Guard 88th Army Band is scheduled to perform

Gov. Dan McKee, who missed last year’s ceremony because he was traveling back to Rhode Island from out of state, is scheduled to deliver remarks followed in order by U.S. Sens. Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse; U.S. Rep. Seth Magaziner; Lt. Gov. Sabina Matos; Secretary of State Gregg Amore; Attorney General Peter Neronha; and General Treasurer James Diossa.

During the ceremony, wreaths will be laid at the Gold Star Family Memorial at the cemetery.

U.S. Rep Gabe Amo is unable to attend Monday’s ceremony because he is participating in the North Providence Memorial Day Parade. The ceremony and the parade in North Providence both begin at 1 p.m. Amo’s office said he is also planning to march in Memorial Day parades in Barrington and Lincoln on Monday morning.

McKee has directed U.S. and Rhode Island flags at all state agencies and buildings to be flown at half staff from sunrise until noon on Monday in observation of Memorial Day. McKee also asked Rhode Islanders to lower their own flags to half staff during this time. Flags should return to full staff at noon.

“Memorial Day is day for Rhode Islanders and the nation to stand together and say ‘thank you’ to our brave men and women who have served our country and have protected the freedoms we enjoy today,” McKee said in a statement Friday.

“This is a moment to recognize them, their families, and their sacrifice. Our service members represent the very best of Rhode Island and the United States and we are forever grateful for their selflessness and courage.”

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