The town will never forget

Published November 13, 2019

By DAN TOMASELLO

LYNNFIELD — Three hundred and fifty residents gathered on the Town Common to honor America’s heroes during the annual Veterans Day ceremony on Monday, Nov. 11.

Veterans Services’ Officer Bruce Siegel served as the event’s master of ceremonies once again. He said Veterans Day is an opportunity to “honor our veterans who were steadfast in their beliefs in serving this great nation.”

“We thank our warriors of today for continuing the fight for our freedom,” said Siegel. “You took an oath before God and country to protect the borders of this great nation. We humbly thank all of you for your services, bravery and sacrifices. As we gather here today to honor our nation’s heroes be it Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force or Coast Guard, let us be mindful to honor them not just today, but every day. It is because of their bravery and sacrifice that we are the land of the free.”

Siegel said, “The importance of Veterans Day is to honor and celebrate veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good.”

“Veterans Day is the day set aside to thank all those who served honorably in the military, in both wartime and peacetime,” said Siegel. “In fact, Veterans Day is largely intended to thank living veterans for their service, to acknowledge that their contributions to our national security are appreciated, and to underscore the fact that all those who served have sacrificed and performed their duty.”

Siegel encouraged the ceremony’s attendees to thank veterans for their service.

“Look him or her in the eye, shake their hands firmly, and tell them, ‘thank you,’” said Siegel. “Thank you for your service, thank you for your commitment, thank you for your sacrifice, and thank you for allowing us to have the life that we have. Born of their extraordinary accomplishments comes our extraordinary debt. And for those accomplishments and for their dedication, we must always be grateful.”

After the ceremony’s attendees recited “The Pledge of Allegiance,” the Lynnfield Middle School and Lynnfield High School bands joined forces to perform “The National Anthem.”

Siegel recognized the veterans in attendance by having the bands perform the Armed Forces Medley in their honor. Father Paul Ritt of Saint Maria Goretti followed by giving the innovation.

Sacrifices recognized 

After Rev. Ritt gave the invocation, House Minority Leader Brad Jones (R-North Reading) provided some remarks.

“Thank you to our veterans for your service and your sacrifice, and the sacrifice of your families,” said Jones. “They let you go off to far away places to keep our nation safe during wartime and peacetime.”

Jones noted Massachusetts has a long-standing tradition of supporting veterans.

“The state has among the most if not the most generous veterans benefits,” said Jones. “We work each and every year to try and improve those and maintain that record.”

Jones recalled that the House of Representatives approved a bill last week recognizing Deborah Sampson, who he said was “a young woman from Plympton, Massachusetts who hid her identity and went to fight in the Revolutionary War.”

The house minority leader also noted that World War II veteran Joseph Finneran was “repatriated last week 76 years after he lost his life in World War II.” He also said Sergeant Christopher Vars was recently repatriated after dying in a POW camp in Korea in 1950. He said the “miracle of DNA testing” enabled both soldiers’ remains to be identified and returned home.

“We as a nation continue to honor those who serve, but also remember those who did not come home,” said Jones. “Take pride in the fact that our nation always remembers your service and never forgets. Today, we say thank you to all who have worn the uniform of this great country.”

After Jones concluded his remarks, Girl Scout Daisy Troop 67136 and Girl Scout Troop 82559 sang “America the Beautiful.”

Forever grateful

After the Girl Scouts concluded their musical performance, Selectmen Chairman Phil Crawford gave a speech on behalf of the board. He began the speech by thanking Siegel for his service to the community and the country.

“Bruce proudly served in the United States Navy,” said Crawford. “He has organized both the Veterans Day and Memorial Day ceremonies, and has served as the marshal for the Memorial Day Parade. Please join in me in thanking Bruce for his service to both the town and the country.”

Crawford said Veterans Day is an opportunity “to honor the men and women who have worn this nation’s uniform.”

“We join together to thank them for their service, their courage, their valor and their devotion to duty,” said Crawford.

Crawford also gave a Veterans Day history lesson to the ceremony’s attendees.

“On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, the fighting of World War I ended in 1918,” said Crawford. “President Woodrow Wilson called it ‘the war to end all wars’ and declared Nov. 11 as Armistice Day. After World War II and the Korean War, President Dwight D. Eisenhower renamed the holiday Veterans Day to salute all veterans, no matter when and where they served.”

Crawford said Americans “owe so much to our veterans.”

“It is a debt we can never truly repay,” said Crawford. “We owe them our way of life, our freedom to live, work and raise our families as we please. Honoring the sacrifices many have made for our country in the name of freedom and democracy is the very foundation of Veterans Day.”

Crawford also noted that veterans share a common bond, which is “their unwavering belief in the cause of freedom.”

“It’s a belief so strong they were willing to give their lives, if need be, in its defense,” said Crawford.

Purple Heart Community

After Crawford concluded his speech, Siegel noted the Board of Selectmen voted last month to designate the town as a Purple Heart Community.

Siegel said over 750 communities in the United States, many of whom are located in Massachusetts, are Purple Heart cities or towns.

“We will place signs in strategic spots so that when drivers enter Lynnfield, they will see that we are a Purple Heart Community,” said Siegel.

Siegel said the town will also designate Aug. 7 as Purple Heart Day.

“Never forget”

After Siegel recited the Purple Heart Community proclamation approved by the selectmen, he introduced guest speaker Jason Kimball. He recalled that Kimball, a Marine Corps veteran, served a tour in Afghanistan and Iraq.

“Jason was commissioned as a second lieutenant and eventually achieved the rank of major,” said Siegel. “He was deployed twice as part of the Global War on Terrorism and received a number awards during his service.”

Kimball thanked the ceremony’s attendees for “supporting our veterans today.” He also thanked the selectmen and town officials for organizing the ceremony, particularly Siegel.

“Today’s event is an example of his hard work and dedication to our town’s veterans,” said Kimball. “The town is now on it’s way to becoming a Purple Heart town because of his actions.”

Kimball told the ceremony’s attendees that it’s important for them to “show our support to the brave men and women who bravely and tirelessly protect us year after year.”

“It is also important for us to set the example for the next generation by supporting them, so that we as a community never forget their bravery and sacrifice,” said Kimball.

Kimball also asked the ceremony’s attendees, “What does it mean to be a veteran?”

“A veteran is a person who signed a blank check payable in full and including their life to preserve your life,” said Kimball. “Their service includes hard physical and mental training, long periods of time being away from their family and community, and consciously putting themselves in harms way in place of you.”

In closing, Kimball thanked the ceremony’s attendees for “celebrating our brave men and women in uniform.”

Closing ceremony

After Kimball concluded his speech, American Legion Post 131 members Allen Lieb, Tom Bogart, Paul Donato and Jack Lukas, under the guidance of Dick Weeks, fired three blank shots in the air. Lynnfield High School senior Patrick Walsh and junior Julia Colucci also performed “Taps “ and Rev. Ritt gave the closing prayer.

Siegel said, “Our nation owes a debt to our veterans.”

“It’s a debt we can never fully repay,” said Siegel. “But on this Veterans Day, we dedicate ourselves to accomplishing just that. To the men and women of the armed forces of the United States of America and to all our veterans who have worn the uniform of this great nation, happy Veterans Day.”

Daisy Troop 67136 and Girl Scout Troop 82559 sang “God bless America” at the end of the ceremony. The Girl Scouts were given a round of applause.

After the ceremony concluded, attendees were treated to lunch in the Meeting House that was provided by Mastorilli’s Catering.