LYNN — Greater Lynn Senior Services hosted a Veterans Day Luncheon on Thursday to honor Lynn residents who served in the armed forces.
The Lynn English Marine Corps Junior ROTC Honor Guard presented the colors to the more than 20 veterans at the event.
Veterans Day, originally called Armistice Day, is observed nationally on Nov. 11 to remember the end of all veterans, GLSS CEO Kathryn Burns said.
“While it may have been founded in honor of the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, Veterans Day is to honor all veterans from all wars,” she said.
She thanked the elected officials in attendance — State Sen. Brendan Crighton, State Rep. Jenny Armini, and City Councilor-at-Large Nicole McClain, who served in Iraq — for their support of the event and the city’s veterans. She also thanked Ward 3 City Councilor Coco Alinsug and other local organizations who supported the luncheon through donations.
“On behalf of the City of Lynn, I would like to thank our veterans,” Mayor Jared Nicholson said. “We owe a tremendous debt of gratitude for the country we have, the life we live, (and) the values that we share and hope to pass on to future generations. And those are all made possible because of the service and the sacrifice of our veterans.”
He especially thanked the veterans at the event for attending and said it is the community’s obligation to thank and support them.
Burns showed a clip from GLSS’ video titled The Real Harry Crosby: Masters of the Air, based on the book about Crosby’s service.
His son, Jeff Crosby, is a Lynn resident who spoke at the event to reflect on his father’s service and share lessons he learned from his father’s life after the war.
“I always tell younger folks, ‘Talk to veterans. Talk to the elders. You don’t want those stories to die with them,’” Jeff Crosby said.
Lynn and Swampscott Veterans Service Officer Mike Sweeney reminded his fellow veterans to check in with each other, not just on Veterans Day, but every day.
Nahant Veterans Service Officer Jon Lazar said it’s important for him to honor fellow veterans because they take pride in their service and giving back to their community.
“They did what they were told to do, and to recognize that sacrifice means a lot to veterans,” he said
The Lynn English Marine Corps Junior ROTC concluded the event with a presentation of arms.
