On the 247th anniversary of the Marine Corps Thursday morning, officials gathered at the Belmonte STEAM Academy in Saugus for an assembly honoring veterans ahead of Veterans Day Friday.
The event was attended by state Rep. Donald Wong (R-Saugus), as well as representatives from Sen. Brendan Crighton (D-Lynn) and state Rep. Jessica Giannino (D-Revere)’s offices, along with four of five members of the Board of Selectmen, members of the School Committee, and Superintendent Erin McMahon. In brief remarks ahead of the assembly, McMahon thanked officials for attending the event, and said the town is “lucky” to have the leaders it does.
“We are very, very lucky in Saugus to have such a supportive group of leadership of all of our schools and in support of our veterans,” she said. “To each of our veterans, we are so grateful to you for your service.”
Saugus Veterans Council Chairman Capt. Stephen L. Castinetti spoke to the assembled students at the event Thursday morning, telling them Veterans Day is an important opportunity to “celebrate the sacrifice and service for those who served to ensure our democracy, our way of life, and our safety.”
“Veterans Day is our chance to extend our gratitude to those with the courage to protect this nation, knowing that it may mean laying down their lives,” Castinetti said. “November 11 is the day we celebrate Veterans Day. But let us not restrict our thanks and gratitude to today. Every day should be Veterans Day. Whether it be a day in May, July or October, any day for that matter, never forget the sacrifices that your veterans have made, and continue to make today to protect our way of life.”
During the assembly, students from fourth grade classes at the school performed renditions of “God Bless America,” “Your Grand Old Flag,” and “Yankee Doodle,” while fifth-grade students recited poems. A group of fifth-grade students in a music enrichment class performed a rendition of “Thank You to Our Veterans.”
Following the assembly, veterans were led out of the auditorium by students and into second-grade classrooms, where students had the opportunity to read letters they wrote to a veteran, and ask them questions.
Boston Police Officer Eamon Shoemaker visited Mary Kate Grocki’s second-grade classroom, where one student told Shoemaker she wanted to be a veteran one day because she “wanted to save the world.”
Shoemaker replied, simply, “you will.”
On Friday, the veterans council is hosting an event at the Saugus War Memorial at the corner of Winter and Central streets. Police Chief Michael Ricciardelli will attend the event, which begins at 11 a.m.
In Lynn, Veterans Day festivities will kick off in the City Hall foyer at 9 a.m. Friday where city
officials will serve local veterans breakfast, prepared free of charge by Brothers Deli Owner
George Markos.
At 10 a.m. the veterans will be welcomed into the Lynn Auditorium, where the Lynn All City
Band and Lynn English Marine Corps JROTC will perform. Each veteran will be invited on
stage to introduce themselves, state where they served, and say a few words if they choose to
before Mayor Jared Nicholson presents each with a commemorative pin and a handshake with
elected officials.
Department of Veterans Services Director Michael Sweeney said that this year’s event, the
first in-person, indoor ceremony since the start of the pandemic, aims to put the veterans in the
limelight, giving those who served the respect they deserve.
“Now we’re in a place where we can come together, and I just don’t think that you can, I think the beauty of coming together in one place, it’s impossible to duplicate that kind of
connection, and has everyone in the same moment, at the same time,” Sweeney said. “It’s really
poignant —it’s important. I think the key is to make the veterans themselves be the centerpiece of the day.”
Swampscott is hosting a veterans day breakfast at 9 a.m. Friday at the Swampscott Senior Center, before a ceremony on Monument Avenue begins at 11 a.m. The keynote speaker of the ceremony will be Dr. Marika Solhan, the director of the Boston Vet Center.
In Peabody, Mayor Edward A. Bettencourt, Jr. will host the Veterans Day Breakfast on Friday, Nov. 11 at City Hall.
The breakfast will honor all Peabody residents who served America in the armed forces and will include a special commemoration for veterans of Operation Desert Storm and Operation Desert Shield.
Another highlight will be the presentation of a citation to USMC veteran Frank J. Schettino. Schettino is a Purple Heart recipient who participated in 11 confirmed search-and-destroy missions.
“It will be a moving tribute to Mr. Schettino,” said Veterans Services Agent Steve Patten.
The breakfast will begin at 8:30 a.m. in Wiggin Auditorium, 24 Lowell St. Veterans are asked to contact the Veteran Services Department at 978-538-5925 to reserve tickets.
Following the breakfast, the annual Veterans Day memorial ceremony will take place in front of City Hall at approximately 11 a.m.
“The men and women who have served our country in the armed forces deserve our respect and appreciation,” said Bettencourt. “This year we will offer special recognition to those who served during Operation Desert Storm and Operation Desert Shield and will present these brave men and women with a token of our eternal gratitude.”
Lynnfield will celebrate Veterans Day on the Town Common Friday. The festivities begin at 11 a.m. and will last approximately 30 minutes. All Lynnfield veterans and residents are invited and encouraged to attend. Lunch will be available immediately after the ceremony.
“Veterans Day is a celebration of the brave men and women who have dedicated their lives to protecting us. It is incumbent upon us to spend some time showing our appreciation,” said Veterans Services Officer Bruce Siegel.
In the event of inclement weather, the celebration will take place inside the Meeting House.
For additional information, please contact Siegel at 781-334-9440.
Nahant is hosting a ceremony beginning at 11 a.m. at the intersection of Nahant Road and Castle Road, with a reception to follow across the street.
Marblehead is hosting a number of events, beginning with a breakfast honoring veterans at 9 a.m. at the Senior Center at Jacoby Community Center, 10 Humphrey St. A remembrance will be held at Abbot Hall at 10 a.m.
The Veterans of Foreign Wars Post will host a reception with refreshments at 11 a.m. at 321 West Shore Drive. All remembrance attendees are welcome following the 10 a.m. ceremony at Abbot Hall.
The final event set to be held in Marblehead is a town hall hosted by U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton in the Abbot Hall auditorium at 12 p.m.
Anthony Cammalleri, Rachel Barber, Sylvia Chen, and Anne Marie Tobin of the Item staff contributed to this report. Charlie McKenna can be reached at [email protected].
