Overflow Crowd Salutes Veterans

A standing-room-only crowd filled the this morning for a salute to the town’s veterans.

This ceremony especially honored the town’s World War II veterans. The town officially received the new World War II  monument, more than 60 years after the war ended.

“It’s extremely heart-warming to see the size of this crowd today,’’ said state Rep. George Peterson, a Grafton resident and veteran whose father and son also served. “We would not be here today to be able to dedicate this monument if it weren’t for our veterans.’’

The monument, the only World War II monument on the Common, honors the 900 town residents who served and bears the names of the 19 men who were killed.

The effort to install the monument was spearheaded by the Grafton Historical Society and the World War II Memorial Committee.

Funding came from private donations from residents and businesses. “The people of Grafton have such appreciation and affection for the veterans of Grafton,’’ said Linda Casey, president of the Grafton Historical Society.

Peter Adams, chairman of the Board of Selectmen, accepted the memorial on behalf of the town. “Thank you for [the gift of] such an important monument to the town,’’ he said. The honor, he said, “is long overdue.’’

State Sen. Michael Moore said that “every day should be a day to reflect on the sacrifices of our veterans.’’

He urged people to consider and support the needs of veterans throughout the year. “It’s a travesty that any veteran should be homeless’’ or in need of such basics as food and health care, he said.

History, Casey said, is reflected not as much in buildings or on in paper but in lives, such as those who served in World War II and the young men whowere killed.

Nine hundred soldiers from Grafton served in World War II, she said. “We thank them, we honor them and we remember them,’’ she said.