American Legion, veterans to be honored on Veterans’ Day

Published in the November 4, 2015 edition

LYNNFIELD — Lynnfield’s traditional Veterans’ Day celebration will begin at 11 a.m. sharp on Wednesday, November 11 on the Lynnfield Common. The ceremony will last approximately 30 minutes. All are invited to honor the men and women who kept the country safe.

Two veterans will receive special recognition during the ceremony, but their names will remain a “surprise” until the ceremony, Veterans’ Services Agent Jason Kimball told the Villager.

Additionally, Kimball said, the focus of this year’s ceremony “is to raise awareness and money for the Lynnfield American Legion.” To assist in that effort, he said, “the Lynnfield Rotary Club will be presenting the Legion with a check for $500 during the ceremony.”

Paul Donato serves as the Commander of the Lynnfield American Legion and he will be leading the honor guard. The keynote address will be delivered by Selectmen Chairman Phil Crawford. Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, as well as the Lynnfield High School Band, will also participate in the ceremony.

“I am really looking forward to the ceremony, but it is bittersweet as this is the last time I will be in charge of the Lynnfield Veterans’ Day ceremony,” Kimball told the Villager. “But I am sure I will continue to be attending and helping out when and where I can.”

Kimball is a Marine Corps veteran who was deployed to Afghanistan briefly in 2004 and to Iraq for most of 2005, after which he served in the Marine Reserves until 2010. He recently announced that he will be stepping down as the Veterans’ Services agent at the end of the year. The town is currently accepting applications for the vacancy. The post is required to be held by a veteran of the armed services.

In the event of inclement weather, the celebration will occur on the same date and time inside the Meeting House. Light refreshments will be served upon the conclusion on the ceremony.

For those interested in making donations to local veterans, members of Lynnfield’s American Legion Post 131 will be on site and donations may be made to them after the ceremony as well. Please direct any questions to Veterans’ Services Agent Jason Kimball at 781-334-9440 or at his law office at 781-334-3200.