Marblehead honors veterans in front of packed Abbot Hall crowd

MARBLEHEAD-The son of a World War II veteran told a packed crowd of Marbleheaders that he always knew where he would be on Veterans Day."My father Ben and I always attended Veterans’ Day ceremonies together," Selectman William Woodfin said during his remarks at Sunday morning’s ceremonies at Abbot Hall."And I still feel as if he is with me, at my side," he said.Woodfin, Sunday’s guest speaker, is the son of Benjamin Woodfin, a 50-year town employee and Army veteran of World War II who died last spring. The elder Woodfin’s death occurred at the time of Town Meeting, which he also regularly attended, and was announced at the final session.Selectman Woodfin began his remarks by calling the invitation to speak "the greatest honor I have received as a volunteer in this town."He admitted that when Veterans Agent David Rodgers approached him about speaking his first reaction was that he himself is not a veteran. Woodfin came of age during the suspension of the draft and he did not serve in the military.However, he said on further reflection he realized that as a citizen his rights were defended by veterans and he felt obligated to speak on their behalf.He reminded his audience of the Spirit of ’76 painting in the selectmen’s meeting room downstairs. The painting features a trio of men: an old man, a wounded middle-aged man and a drummer boy of about 14."That picture portrays what service to our country is about," he said. "They did not seek battle. They are simply protecting their homeland and the sacred breath of freedom.""We must never forget that it is on the collective shoulders of veterans that America stands tall and bows to no despot."