VIETNAM VETERAN Gerard Pelletier, a member of VFW Post 10874, (seated at right, holding wreath) prepares to lay ceremonial wreath in honor of the town’s veterans. The VFW also laid wreaths at the base of five war memorials on the common at the conclusion of the indoor ceremony.
ANDRE WASHINGTON, an Army veteran of six combat tours, encouraged all veterans to become their own best advocates by pursuing all the benefits they earned through the Dept. of Veterans Affairs.
CHRIS THOMANN, a U.S. Air Force veteran and the town’s new Director of Veterans’ Services, said the moment a service member takes the oath to support and defend the Constitution of the U.S. it “connects you to a lineage of service that spans generations.”
PATRIOT GUARD mascot Sarge stands guard during the annual Veterans’ Day ceremony.
NRHS Marching Band bugler Michael Ciulla plays “Taps” during the Veterans’ Day tribute on Tuesday.
TALK amongst yourselves. Boy Scouts debate whether or not a hotdog is a sandwich following a prompt given to the entire audience by keynote speaker Andre Washington.
THE PRESENTATION of the Colors was conducted by the North Reading Police Department Honor Guard during the Pledge of Allegiance, led by the town’s Scouts, and the playing of the Star-Spangled Banner by the NRHS Marching Band.
RICHARD STRATTON, who served with the U.S. Marine Corps during Vietnam, was master of ceremonies at the town’s Veterans Day tribute. He noted that Marine Corps celebrated its 250th anniversary on Nov. 10.
MANY OF THE town’s veterans stood to be recognized by the capacity crowd at the Senior Center during Tuesday’s Veterans’ Day ceremonies.
