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Photo by Kim Dedam
U.S. Marines fold a ceremonial flag at the graveside service held for Brett Lawrence Smith in Keene.
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Photo by Kim Dedam
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Photo by Kim Dedam
Marine detail commander presented the folded standard to Brett’s wife, Mary.
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Photo by Kim Dedam
KEENE VALLEY — Long, slow notes from two trumpets wound strains of Echo Taps through the deep valleys here.
Their sad refrain measured sorrow against the bright promise of a hot July morning.
Keene native son, Smith Brett Lawrence, a devoted husband, father and U.S. Marine veteran, was laid to rest last Saturday with full military honors. The ceremonial tribute brought Lawrence, who fought in Vietnam, to his final place of rest.
Marines in sharp-pressed dress uniform stood straight and rigid on the gentle hills at Norton Cemetery. With minute precision, they unfurled then refolded the American standard, each step marking one crisp turn of red, white and blue.
And with few soft-spoken words, the Marine detail’s commander conferred the flag to Mary Lawrence, Brett’s bride of 43 years. She held the tight triangle of blue stars close and leaned forward to listen to his words, flanked by the Lawrence children, Bronson and Molly; his sisters, and large extended family, close friends and neighbors.
Airy notes of a bagpipe sifted through the prayers, as the chaplain read, “another Legionnaire has been called to the High Command.”
The solemn stillness broke only with the loud report gun shots, a final salute repeated off the guide’s beloved Adirondack peaks.
At 20-something, Olivia Gossett, of Keene Valley, had already experienced many years of Brett’s wise words.
“My favorite was when he would look at the mountains and say ‘You know, there were times when I knew I was the only man on that mountain,’” she reminisced, leaving the graveside ceremony.
“He loved the Brothers,” her fiancée Jordan Cooper said, referring to the Three Brothers, the steep ledges around of Big Slide Mountain.
As the burial ceremony ended, family, friends, military comrades and neighbors wound their way slowly toward Keene Valley, where at noon, a memorial service filled the auditorium at Keene Central School to overflow capacity.
Smith Brett Lawrence, known locally as “Brett,” served a tour of duty with the Marines in Vietnam and was part of an attack squadron that fought in the Tet Offensive. He earned a Good Conduct medal and was made sergeant before completing five years of service to his country.
Returning home, he began working as an Adirondack Guide for the Adirondack Mountain Reserve and was also a bobsled driver for tourists at the bob run in Lake Placid.
A member of the American Legion Marcy Post 1312, he carried the American Flag with the color guard at Memorial Day ceremonies.
Marcy Post Commander Tom Both said Brett was proud of his service, proud of his community and proud of his country.
“This was the first Memorial Day ceremony in a long time that he hadn’t carried the American flag,” Both said.
But his presence was felt just the same.
“Brett was always outspoken,” Both said. “There was never any doubt about how he felt about anything. He was a great cook, too.”
Smith Brett Lawrence was 70 years old when he died on June 30 at The University of Vermont Medical Center in Burlington.
He will be remembered by many generations as Santa Claus, having visited nearby hospitals, schools and the Neighborhood House, delivering holiday cheer and ho-ho-hos through his signature long, white beard.
Earlier this year, Keene Central School presented Brett with the Honor Society’s Distinction Award for his “outstanding contributions” to his town, state and to the nation.
