Even if the circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic prevented traditional observances of Veterans Day, that didn’t stop the communities on the North Shore from finding ways to commemorate those who served in the country’s armed forces.
Whether it was virtual, or live — with scaled down services — cities and towns in the area made sure to display their gratitude for those who put on the uniform of the United States military for any reason.
Ceremonies were small, brief, and, in some cases, virtual. Saugus, Swampscott, Peabody, Marblehead, Lynnfield and Nahant had in-person observances. Lynn and Salem were either streamed or pre-recorded and shown on cable television.
In Lynn, a prerecorded ceremony was held at Manning Field, which featured remarks from Mayor Thomas M. McGee, state Sen. Brendan Crighton (D-Lynn), U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton, and Veterans Services Director Michael Sweeney.
The ceremony also included a celebration of the U.S. Marine Corps’ 245th birthday, with performances by the Lynn English JROTC, led by Sgt. Major Kenneth Oswald, and singer Dan Clark, a U.S. Marine and former State Trooper.
“I want to thank our veterans,” said Sweeney. “As an Afghanistan veteran myself, I know that it’s difficult for a lot of us not to get together this year. This is the next best thing.
“Those of you who do get an opportunity to thank a veteran this year, please do so because by thanking veterans, those who have served, in a very real way you’re honoring those who are wearing the uniform today.
“Because as we speak, there are men and women right now in harm’s way who are cold and hungry, who are risking their lives so that we might remain free. And this program is a great example of what it means to come together as a community to honor our veterans.”
McGee and Crighton spoke of family members who served in the armed services. The mayor’s father was a U.S. Marine and Crighton’s grandfather served in the Army, both in World War II.
Both talked about the importance of honoring veterans this year. Moulton, a former U.S. Marine Corps officer, encouraged people to honor veterans by finding other ways to serve, such as calling a relative who may be lonely during quarantine or shopping for an elderly neighbor.
The Lynnfield Moms’ Group hosted a Veterans/Senior Day mobile parade from Our Lady of Assumption School to the center of town.
Lynnfield normally celebrates Veterans Day with a gathering on the town common and lunch at the Meeting House.
“With the pandemic still going strong, I think we would all agree that having our customary celebration would be quite risky,” said Bruce Siegel, the town’s
Veterans Services Officer/Director of Veterans Services.
The virtual ceremony was on the Town of Lynnfield website, Lynnfield’s cable TV stations, and social media.
Marblehead held an observance at Memorial Park that focused on a rededication of the War on Terror Memorial.
The town of Nahant‘s observance was sponsored by the local American Legion Post 215 at Veterans Park.
Included was a reading of Governor Charlie Baker’s proclamation, and additional blessings that reflected on the day’s importance.
“It went really well,” said Town Administrator Antonio Barletta. “Even in an environment where we’re limited by the pandemic as far as getting together and conducting traditional celebrations, Veterans Day is so important to our community, and it’s something that we were more than happy to get together (for) in order to pay our respects to those who have served, and especially to those who are Nahant residents as well.”
Peabody had a small ceremony in front of the war memorials at City Hall, with many attendees dressed in military attire. Mayor Ted Bettencourt said he felt that, given the state of the pandemic, it was more important than ever to come together as a community.
“It was a great day to honor our veterans and it was truly a touching ceremony,” he said. “In normal times we would all be at our traditional breakfast and I know we are all hoping to resume that tradition again.”
Bettencourt added a personal touch.
“It was really cool this morning as my three daughters all called my father, who is a veteran, to wish their grandfather a happy Veterans Day. That’s why this day is so important that we all make sure to thank our veterans for their service.”
Also on hand were State Rep. Tom Walsh, Immediate National President of the Fleet Reserve Association (FRA), Donna Jansky, the Peabody Police Color Guard, several elected city officials and Dan Concessi and Steven Coddens of the Marine Corps League Essex County Detachment 127, who fired a salute.
Jansky, a Peabody native and resident, who is the first woman to serve as president of FRA, noted the stress that choosing a life in military service can bring to families.
“It’s not easy work and it’s a life of discipline and time away from your families at times,” she said. “From the outside, it’s a job, but when you choose to participate, it becomes a lifestyle, a culture.”
Portuguese-American War Veterans (PAWV) Commander, Post 1, Bob Sousa summed up the day by saying, “this is a proud day for us all.”
A 25-person, invitation-only ceremony at Veterans Park in Saugus quickly swelled into an event nearly twice that size as dozens of mask-clad residents and former veterans made a point of stopping by the memorial to pay their respects Wednesday morning.
In an hour-long tribute led by Saugus Veterans Council commander Steve Castinetti — and featuring the Lynn English High School Reserve Officer Training Corps — officials acknowledged the sacrifices made by the country’s servicemen and women.
“We need to keep veterans’ causes in front of people’s faces so they don’t forget,” Castinetti said of the holiday’s importance. “They make a lot of sacrifices and give up years of their lives and go to places we don’t want to go.
“People today need to recognize the sacrifice and the service that our veterans provide.”
Vietnam veteran and commander of the town’s Veterans of Foreign Wars branch James Marshall said he felt support for veterans has been steadily on the decline in the United States over the last several decades, especially in the wake of the Vietnam War.
“It’s been changing,” he said. “I’m here to honor veterans from all branches. Anyone who serves deserves to be honored.”
This year, the town also added the names of five more local veterans to its park walls: Charles Richard Fail, Ralph James Moore, James Edward Jensen, George Ingram Barclay III, and Jonathan Paul Wiley.
“I’ve never missed a ceremony. If it weren’t for the men and women fighting for our freedoms, we wouldn’t have the life that we have here today,” said selectwoman Debra Panetta.
She noted that this year in particular, her thoughts were with her late father-in-law, Ralph Panetta, a veteran who died last month.
“I think it’s important that we thank veterans for their service and respect the people who have passed on our behalf to keep us safe and secure, and who have given us the freedoms that we’ve come to take for granted,” Panetta said. “It’s important that we recognize their sacrifices and the sacrifices of their families.”
Veterans gathered at the Swampscott Cemetery Wednesday with other public servants, their families, and the community for a brief ceremony that featured a medley of songs, prayers, speeches and a poem “Flanders Field” read by members of the Boy Scouts.
Elementary school students wrote cards thanking veterans for their service, which were distributed at the event.
“It’s a day to remember those of us that did serve,” said David Gustavson, who served in Vietnam and the National Guard before working in the cemetery where he was honored Wednesday.
“And a way for them to show their appreciation for all we’ve done and sacrificed over the years. And for our families as well. Those that were left at the home front while we went over to serve.”
Town Administrator Sean Fitzgerald spoke on how the pandemic had made life harder for veterans.
“The COVID crisis makes it all that much more imperative that we care for our veterans. Isolation caused by the pandemic is making the lives of our veterans much more difficult,” he said. “We have to be mindful of the fact that our veterans and their families have sacrificed so much. We have to take some steps to ensure that they feel appreciated.”
State Representative Lori Ehrlich (D-Marblehead) explained some of the work that the State Legislature had been doing for veterans.
“I’m always proud to stand up for veterans with my colleagues in the state legislature in a way that makes our state the most veteran friendly state in the union,” she said. “But we never rest on our laurels. In the Commonwealth we support those who put their lives on the line for America. In ensuring that veterans are given the health and respect that they deserve.”