By Melanie Petrucci, Senior Community reporter
Shrewsbury – John Travers, Adjunct at the Ray Stone American Legion Post and Boy Scout Leader of Troop 4 in Shrewsbury, presided over a poignant Veterans Day ceremony Nov. 11. The event marked the 100th anniversary of Veterans Day and began promptly at the 11th hour of Nov. 11 at the WWI Memorial located in front of the Beal School.
“Veterans Day is a special day when we remember all of our veterans past and future and all of the sacrifices that they made on behalf of our country, our freedoms and our liberties,” said Travers.
He acknowledged State Rep. Hannah Kane (R – Shrewsbury); members of the Board of Selectmen including chair John Lebeaux, Beth Casavant, James Kane and Maurice DePalo, as well as many veterans who were in attendance.
Fred Russell, chair of the Shrewsbury Veterans Council, welcomed all who came and braved the very chilly weather to pay homage.
“I thought I would take a moment to remember that Shrewsbury has been sending its daughters and sons off to serve in our military to defend our way of life from the very first moments leading to the birth of the United States,” Lebeaux shared in his address.
“We simply would not living the lives that we lead without what they have all done for us,” he added.
“I always try, on this day, to think about the magnitude that our veterans have had in the world but also bring it back to the community and think about those individuals who stepped forward in Shrewsbury knowing that they could possibly be making the ultimate sacrifice for community, commonwealth and country,” reflected Rep. Kane.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited by members of Girl Scout Troop 30050 and the National Anthem was performed by Olivia Marques, with a salute to the Armed Forces by the Paton School 3rd Grade Chorus.
The service concluded with a wreath laying, a reading of names of recently deceased veterans followed by Taps performed by brothers Thomas Ryan (Shrewsbury High School) and Patrick Ryan (University of Massachusetts – Lowell.)
A reception sponsored by the Friends of the Shrewsbury Public Library was held immediately following the ceremony at the library
