By MAUREEN DOHERTY
NORTH READING — The sudden temperature drop on Tuesday morning failed to deter the enthusiasm of the townspeople who made the trek to the town common to honor their local heroes on Veterans’ Day, in part because the organizers had to foresight to move the ceremony indoors to the Edith O’Leary Senior Center.
The standing-room only crowd of infants to senior citizens even included some well-behaved four-footed friends. While a few adjustments had to be made, such as having the North Reading High School Marching Band perform outdoors, foregoing the musket volley by the Minit & Militia, and placing one ceremonial wreath on a table as the buglers played “Taps,” the ceremony accomplished its goal of thanking our nation’s veterans of all eras and conflicts for their honor, courage and sacrifice. After the indoor ceremony, members of North Reading VFW Post 10874 placed a wreath on each of the town’s five war memorials at the top of the common, the last of which had been dedicated exactly 30 years earlier.
Vietnam War Marine Corps veteran and Veterans Event Committee Chair Richard Stratton served as the event’s emcee reminded the attendees of the sacrifices made by all veterans and urged them to thank them for preserving our freedoms and ideals.
“Today, throughout the United States, in every city and town, we take time to honor the brave men and women who serve on foreign lands,” Stratton said. He continued, “Many return with visible wounds, but many have great difficulties adjusting back to civilian life. Our valorous veterans sacrificed so much for our liberties. Our right to free speech, our right to religion, our right to vote, our right to fair trial and our right to freedom of the press should never be taken for granted. I ask each and every one of you to take the time not only today, but every day, look into the eyes of a hero, shake their hand and thank them for their service.”
Rev. Rachel Fisher, pastor of Aldersgate UMC, offered both the invocation and benediction. Five members of the North Reading Police Honor Guard led the Presentation of the Colors during the Pledge of Allegiance led by North Reading Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts and Girl Scouts. Even though they could not be seen, it was easy to hear the precision with which the award-winning NRHS Marching Hornets played the Star-Spangled Banner through the walls and windows of the nearly 200-year-old Third Meeting House.
Irene Yull, representing the North Reading Republican Town Committee, then read the award-winning scholarship essay penned by Addison Stetson, a 2025 graduate of NRHS who is now a freshman at Wentworth Institute of Technology. Now in its 13th year, the essay’s theme remains the same by asking the high school seniors to ponder “What the American Flag Means to Me.”
Veterans Event Committee member Michelle Reid read the Governor’s Proclamation on Veterans’ Day by Gov. Maura Healey and Select Board member Nick Masse read the proclamation signed by the entire board last week declaring November to be Veterans and Military Families Appreciation Month in North Reading. (This proclamation is reprinted in its entirety on page 4 of today’s Transcript.)
In his first official ceremonial event, the town’s new Director of Veterans’ Services, Christopher Thomann, delivered the first keynote address. The retired veteran of the U.S. Air Force noted that Veterans’ Day provides everyone with the opportunity to “pause, reflect and appreciate what it truly means to have worn the uniforms of our nation. When you see someone in uniform, you see the rank on their sleeves, which tells you who they were, and who they are. The rack on their chest—those ribbons and medals—tell you where they’ve been and what they’ve done, even though it only scratches the surface of what it means to be a service member.”
Thomann continued: “When we all raised our right hands, we took an oath. We promised to support and defend the Constitution of the United States of America. Not a person, not a party, but an ideal. That moment changes you. It connects you to a lineage of service that spans generations.”
Not to be forgotten; however, is the family of each veteran, Thomann stressed, because “veterans don’t serve alone. Behind every veteran, is a family that also bears the weight of that commitment.” Thomann also reminded the audience that while earlier in the week the flag was flown at half staff following the death of former Vice President Dick Cheney, it had remained at half staff on Veterans Day to honor the memory of Army Private Alfred Thomas Langevin from East Weymouth, Massachusetts, who was killed in action during the Battle of Hurtgen Forest in November of 1944 during WWII. “After 81 years, his remains were finally identified,” Thomann said, and he was laid to rest in his hometown on Monday. “His journey home serves as a powerful reminder that our nation remembers its heroes, and vows to bring every service member home.”
The keynote address was given by Andre C. Washington who served six combat deployments during the Global War on Terrorism during his 22-year career with the U.S. Army. “Today, he continues his service as Director of Family Readiness at Westover Air Reserve Base, supporting military families with unwavering dedication. He’s a decorated leader, mentor, and a man who serves with humility and heart,” Thomann said.
Washington immediately put the audience at ease by asking two simple questions: “Is a hotdog a sandwich?” and “Is a thumb a finger?” And then asked everyone to take a minute to discuss their opinions on these matters and offer their opinions to the group. Many were surprised to learn that according to Webster’s Dictionary, a hotdog is a sandwich and he surprised those who didn’t think a thumb was a finger by asking them if they would hold up five fingers on one hand. With those matters settled, Washington dove into the more serious matters of ensuring all veterans seek and obtain all of the benefits they earned through their military service.
“Serving in the military — which is a profound act of selflessness — where individuals like me and those of you in the audience today have dedicated themselves to a cause greater than their own,” Washington said. “Being a service member is a commitment that goes beyond a regular job; it is a vow to protect and defend this great nation — its values, and its people, often at great personal risk.”
So it’s not surprising that those who are willing to take such risks and who are used to being both self-reliant and willing to risk their lives for their comrades or an ideal would find it difficult to ask for assistance from the Veterans Administration once their service ends. It’s just not in their DNA.
But Washington stressed that veterans — and all those who love and support them — need to step up and “do your part” to claim all that they have rightfully earned. These entitlements are more than just healthcare, he said. “Guided by President Lincoln’s promise ‘to care for him who shall have borne the battle,’ the VA administers healthcare, financial support, and burial benefits… Beyond healthcare, the VA is also responsible for the Veterans Benefits Administration which manages compensation, education assistance via the GI Bill, home loans, and more. These comprehensive services are vital for helping veterans successfully transition to civilian life and addressing the long-term effects of their military service. However, none of this works if you don’t do your part,” Washington said.