By Madison Butkus
Hometown Weekly Reporter
In honor of Veterans Day, the town of Westwood came together on Saturday, November 11th to hold a Veterans Day Observance ceremony at Veterans Park. The event started promptly at 11 am to honor active military personnel and Veterans within the United States and especially in Westwood.
This year’s observation included representation from local, state, federal elected officials as well as Westwood’s own American Legion. Commander of the American Legion Post 320, Richard D. Paster, welcomed everyone to the ceremony and asked all to participate in the Pledge of Allegiance. While doing so, attendees were able to look up at the absolutely stunning U.S. Flag waving from the ladder of a Westwood fire truck.
The speakers for this ceremony included Westwood Select Board Member Marianne C. LeBlanc Cummings, Massachusetts Senator of the Norfolk and Suffolk Districts Michael F. Rush, Massachusetts State Representative of the Norfolk District Paul McMurtry, and more. Each spoke of their utmost gratitude for the service of our Veterans, including the over 450 Veterans who have come from Westwood.
Within Marianne’s speech, she specifically mentioned, “Today, our hearts swell with pride and gratitude as our nation unites in honoring the 1.4 million active service members and nearly 18 million Veterans in the United States who have answered their country’s call in serving in America’s armed forces. In Westwood, we are honored to have more than 450 Veterans living among us. Humbly, we thank our Veterans for their sacrifice, their service, and their loyalty to our country. Our peace and our freedom is the legacy of their service, because they have served, we can proudly sing that we live in the land of the free and the home of the brave. As we gather again this year for this beautiful service here in Veterans Park, I would like to specifically recognize the members of our American Legion Color Guard, who present year after year at our Memorial Day and Veterans Day Observances.”
As the ceremony concluded, middle school students performed the National Anthem on their trumpets. Afterwards, the American Legion Color Guard conducted a three-round volley to salute all of our Veterans. Family, friends, and community members packed Veterans Park in awe of the kind words shared by each speaker and saluted all Veterans for their outstanding service.
On behalf of Hometown Weekly Newspaper, we would like to say thank you to all Veterans for their continued service and dedication for our country.
