Lynn honors veterans

LYNN – Veterans from wars past and present along with state and local officials took the stage in front of a massive, 30-foot tall American flag Friday morning, to take part in the annual Veterans Day Assembly at the Veterans Memorial Auditorium at Lynn City Hall.After an invocation by Ted Kurpiel, Commander of the Franco American Veterans Post 12, and the playing of the National Anthem by the Lynn Public School band, Mayor Judith Flanagan Kennedy took the stage and marveled at the crowd of roughly 150 people.”I have been coming to Veterans Day assemblies for many, many years and I can tell you that I’ve never seen as large a crowd as I see here today,” said Kennedy. “I think that says something very positive about our country ? We’re getting a clearer vision of where we want our country to go. We know we cannot realize those visions unless we have people like those of you who are here ? and those of you who are currently serving who are going to watch our backs, protect our freedoms and allow us to pursue our dreams.”State Senator Thomas M. McGee spoke about the sacrifices veterans make not only in Lynn, but across the entire commonwealth of Massachusetts and even in the State Legislature, where three elected officials are currently serving overseas.”Not only here in the community, but in the legislature and around the commonwealth, veterans are putting their lives on the line every day for us and we need to remember that,” said McGee. “We need to continue to remember, not only on Veterans Day, but every day, the sacrifice and the commitment that veterans are giving to this community and this country to make this the greatest country in the world.”McGee said providing the proper services for returning veterans goes hand-in-hand with honoring their sacrifices.”The Veterans Service Office is a real connection in terms of what we feel about veterans as a commonwealth and how we can make sure that the benefits and services that are richly deserved by veterans and their families are available,” said McGee.State Rep. Steve Walsh also spoke Friday morning and discussed the recently passed supplemental state budget, which provides money for various veterans programs.”An important step to acknowledge the sacrifice and work of our veterans is we put money in the supplemental budget to make sure that when the new veterans come back ? they’re treated appropriately, there’s jobs and workforce development available to them,” said Walsh. “We need to make sure that ? they’re treated with the dignity and the pride for the service and the honor they have given to this country.”Pat Healy, a member of Sen. Scott Brown’s staff, read a letter from Sen. Brown, recognizing the sacrifices veterans have made, while calling on Americans to better help returning veterans.”It’s critically important that we remember those who defend our freedom with the best care and assistance possible,” said Brown in the letter. “As America celebrates and honors the contribution of our veterans today, we must come together as a nation to take action to help those who have served.”While there was no shortage of speakers Friday, audience members were also treated to several performances, including renditions of “America” and “Amazing Grace” by Lynn English teacher Gail Bastarache, and a drill presentation by members of the Lynn English High School Marine Corps JrROTC.Ward 6 Councilor and Army veteran Peter Capano was last to take the podium, and pointed to the recent election as an example of the freedoms Americans enjoy as a result of the hard work from those who have served and are currently serving in the military.”In the end we have a winner, but in reality the city is the overall winner because there are no tanks blocking the entrance to City Hall,” said Capano. “There are no riots in the streets. We have a government elected peacefully by us, the people, and we can thank the veterans for that.”Matt Tempesta can be reached at [email protected]. You can follow hi