Town of Foxborough to Hold Veterans Day Ceremony

From the Town of Foxborough:

FOXBOROUGH, MA - "The History of Veterans Day" by Matthew Mackenzie:

In late July of 1914 the nations of the world found themselves thrust into a conflict that would leave a terrible impact on human history called the Great War. Later known as the First World War, nations on all continents mobilized vast militaries to war with one another. In an age of rapid technological advancement, military strategy found itself hard pressed to keep pace with an arms race that claimed numerous lives, forcing nations to call upon even more individuals to fight. Countries normally removed from events within the eastern hemisphere, such as the United States, were drawn into a devastating struggle that many believed to be the end of all wars. During the entirety of the war over sixty five million individuals were mobilized to fight in world war one, of which more than half became casualties.[1] The United States called upon nearly four and a half million individuals to serve their country after its entry into the war in 1917, where they fought alongside allied powers on the land, in the sea, and in air.

Thankfully, after four long years of conflict, the warring powers declared the cessation of combat operations on the eleventh hour on the eleventh day of the eleventh month in 1918. That date, November 11th, was thereafter referred to as Armistice Day. The world attempted to pick up the pieces of its own war shattered reflection. The massive forces assembled to fight in the war were either decimated in the conflict, or afterwards drawn down to a shadow of their former sizes. The veterans that fought in that bloodshed returned home to their former lives, although a great number of them found it difficult.

A year later, on the one year anniversary of Armistice Day in November of 1919, President Woodrow Wilson honored the efforts of all allied individuals who had served during the war, orating on their heroism and the importance of remembering their service. His speech that year started the process of creating a special day to honor veterans for their service in contrast to Memorial Day which honors those who died in the line of duty. In 1938 Armistice Day became a legal holiday, and in 1954 the day was renamed Veterans Day. In that same year, in order to cement the importance of the day, former President Dwight D. Eisenhower gave a speech asking the American people to “solemnly remember the sacrifices of all those who fought so valiantly, on the seas, in the air, and on foreign shores, to preserve our heritage of freedom” and to “reconsecrate ourselves to the task of promoting an enduring peace so that their efforts shall not have been in vain.” [2]

The scope of Veterans Day grew over time from the end of the First World War to today, honoring the service of all veterans in peace and wartime in service to the United States. Today communities in the United States observe Veterans Day with reverence, never forgetting those who so bravely defend our liberties and freedom.

[1] World War I Casualty and Death Tables. PBS. (Accessed Oct. 6, 2016).

[2] Eisenhower, Dwight D. “Title 3-The President Proclamation 3071, Veterans Day 1954”; Federal Register. Oct. 12, 1954. From the Office of Veteran’s Affairs Online Documents Collection. (Accessed Oct. 6, 2016).

Town of Foxborough Veterans Day Ceremony

Friday November 11, 2016 at 11:00 a.m.

Foxborough High School Auditorium

Light refreshments to follow in High School Cafeteria

Program:

Opening Michael Johns, Master of Ceremonies

Invocation Rev. Matt Westcott, Pastor Saint Mary’s Church

Pledge of Allegiance Matthew Gonzales, Troop 32 BSA

The National Anthem Julia Carson, 8th Gr, Ahern School

Greetings & Brief Remarks From the Board David Feldman, Chairman Foxborough Board of Selectman

From Public Safety Roger Hatfield, Foxborough Fire Chief

From Foxborough High School Junior Kelli McCarthy, “America at War” History Class

From the Statehouse Representative F. Jay Barrows

Patriotic Medley The Serenading Seniors, Director Jeanne Bonneau

Keynote Speaker USMC WWII Veteran & Author Lawrence Kirby

Hymns of the Armed Forces The Serenading Seniors

Closing Benediction Rabbi Joseph Ron Fish, Temple Israel

Announcements Master of Ceremonies

Image via the Town of Foxborough.