Veterans Day fell on a Saturday this year, but while residents went about their weekend business and painters continued their work at the nearby General Store, a dozen former servicemen and their families and friends gathered at the World War I monument on the Common to commemorate the occasion.
With the town clock out of order and unable to mark, with a peal of bells, the time at which the World War I armistice was signed—the 11th hour of the 11th day of November 1918—retired U.S. Army Col. Duane Barber, the event’s host, consulted his phone and called the assembly to order.
Retired Marine Col. Jim Wilson of Andover, a decorated Vietnam veteran and 30-year career soldier, spoke briefly, recalling the history of Veterans Day and the push by U.S. veterans groups in the 1970s to ensure that the date of remembrance remained Nov. 11 regardless of the day of the week on which it falls.
Navy veteran Lorin Johnson salutes after placing a wreath on the World War I memorial during a Veterans Day ceremony held on the Common, Saturday, Nov. 11. (Photo by Thomas Kilian)
Wilson, who was stationed for a time at the former Fort Devens, thanked the several veterans who were present, regardless of their branch of service, because, Wilson said, every veteran has at one time raised their right hand and pledged to serve and defend the nation. “That’s something that stays with us forever, to say the least,” Wilson said.
Wilson welcomed the families and friends who were present, saying they were “the critically important support system” necessary for both active duty members and veterans. “It’s a wonderful thing to see on this beautiful day in November, this turnout of concerned people and people who, in fact, appreciate the service of our veterans.”
“As veterans,” Wilson concluded, “we don’t want to forget the sacrifices made by those who preceded us: Those veterans who have served and those fine men and women who will one day raise their hands to pledge to defend and protect this nation and they too, become veterans.”
Following Wilson’s four-minute talk, Navy veteran Lorin Johnson laid a wreath at the monument. Two students from the Immaculate Heart of Mary school band—sophomore Mariaclara Dos Santos and freshman Benjamin Evanowski —played echo taps as the gathering stood at attention.
Following their performance, the ceremony ended, but attendees lingered, talking among themselves before returning to Saturday chores of their own, the sunlit wreath a reminder of the day’s significance.
Assembly at Hildreth Elementary School honors veterans
An all-school assembly Thursday, Nov. 9, at Hildreth Elementary School reminded a new generation of the importance of Veterans Day. Children from preschool to fifth grade sat, quiet and attentive, on the gym floor as Junior Girl Scouts and Cub Scouts led in 16 Harvard veterans, some of whom had children or grandchildren in the audience.
After the vets took their seats in the center of the gym, fourth-grader Brantley Casaday read a tribute to those who served. Then fifth-grader Oliver Fensome played “The Star-Spangled Banner” on the flute.
First-grader Jax Burwell, (center in patterned jacket), stands at attention in a sea of his peers during the HES Veterans Day ceremony on Dec 9. (Photos by Lisa Aciukewicz)
Air Force veteran Richard Atkins spoke briefly of his years of service, from 1965 to 1969, which took him both to Vietnam and to Korea. Marine veteran Travis Dery asked the students to raise their hands if they had heard of George Washington, and hundreds of hands shot up. Dery quoted Washington as saying, “A nation will be judged by how it treats its veterans.”
Then, by cellphone, the assembly heard a greeting from Sgt. Thomas Stevens, currently serving in the Middle East with the National Guard. A chorus of young voices replied “Good morning” to Stevens, across the miles. (In civilian life, Stevens is site supervisor for Camp Green Eyrie in Harvard.)
The whole second grade took the stage to sing “God Bless the U.S.A.” (The singing was a cappella because of a computer glitch, but the children carried on, really belting out the chorus.) The assembly ended with the playing of recorded versions of the anthems for the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard. As each anthem played, the veterans who had served in that branch stood and were applauded.
Second-graders sing “God Bless the USA.” Front row, from left: Mia Jiang, Oliver Caglar, Tyler Kollie, and Eli Villalba. Back row: Maggie Rueter, Mackenzie Ellis, Elliot Kosciak, and Evan Fitek.
Oliver Fensome plays “The Star-Spangled Banner.”.
Army veterans Nancy and Steve Cronin enjoy being serenaded by the second-graders.
Left: Fifth-grade Junior Girl Scouts in Troop 65075 march the flag into the Veterans Day assembly. From left: Claire Battaglia, Abigail Marciniak, and Eloise Beauchemin. Right: Marine veteran Travis Dery poses with one of his sons, Brandon, after the ceremony.
.
