Thursday, November 13, 2014
Honoring Our Veterans
On Tuesday, November 11th, I had the honor of speaking at
several Veterans’ Day events throughout my district. Those events included
ceremonies in Gloucester, Wilmington, and Wenham. All of the events I attended displayed
a tremendous amount of patriotism, and provided an excellent opportunity to remember
and thank all those who served and continue to serve this country.
Gloucester’s event, which began at the Gloucester High School Field
House, featured several honorable speakers, a performance by the Docksiders,
drill team demonstrations by the Gloucester High School Marine Corps JROTC, and
a parade to American Legion Square, where wreaths were laid and Taps was
played.
In Wilmington, hundreds of town residents gathered at the Wilmington
Veterans Monument located at the Town Common. The ceremony included passionate speeches
from veterans, state, and local officials, performances by the Wilmington High
School Marching Band, and a Governor’s proclamation presentation by Keith
Jones, director of Operations for the Massachusetts Department of Veteran
Services.
In Wenham, a special ceremony was organized by town officials and the
War Veterans Memorial Committee. That ceremony not only commemorated Veterans’
Day, but also the dedication of the town’s new Veterans Memorial, which is the
result of tireless efforts by the committee and the community to raise funds
from public and private sources (including state government), and to plan and
build a truly fitting memorial to those who have served in our armed forces. The
War Veterans Memorial Committee’s hard work paid off, and the 17 foot monument will
serve generations as a place to pay respect to all those who answered the call
of duty.
The event also featured speeches from retired Air Force Reserves Capt.
Joyce Massello, Ryan Lennon, Director of Veterans Services for the Eastern
Essex District Department of Veterans Services, and state and local officials.
Immediately following the ceremony, the public was able to attend a special
reception.
I want to thank the City of Gloucester’s Veterans Services Department,
the Wilmington Department of Veterans Services, and the Wenham War Veterans
Memorial Committee for their hard work in coordinating these great events. Posted
below are several photos I was able to capture during the events.
