Saluting Those Who Served
DANVERS — On Monday morning, Robert H. Roy, a disabled Vietnam combat veteran, told the large crowd gathered inside Thorpe Elementary School how this year marks the 100th anniversary of Veterans Day.
Roy, a native of Salem and a longtime Danvers resident, served with NMCB 58, the naval mobile construction battalion known as the “Seabees.” He was selected as this year’s guest speaker during the town’s annual Veterans Day ceremony hosted by the Danvers Veterans Council.
During his remarks, Roy told the stories of seven Danvers residents who served in the Battles of Lexington and Concord in 1775, which began the American Revolutionary War. “They are all heroes to me,” he said. “Their sacrifice gave us the gift of the United States.”
One of those men was Maj. Gen. Israel Putnam, who served as commander of the colonial troops at the Battle of Bunker Hill. His home, built in 1648, still stands on Maple Street in Danvers. “The next time you hear the word hero, think of these Danvers men,” Roy told the crowd of more than 100 people. “We should be proud of our history and proud of our veterans today.”
The Rev. John Mulvihill of the First Baptist Church in Danvers delivered an opening prayer before dozens of chamber singers from Danvers High School took to the stage to perform the “Star-Spangled Banner” and “God Bless America.” Danvers Girl Scouts then sang George M. Cohan's 1906 spirited tune "You're a Grand Old Flag."
Master of Ceremonies Richard Moody then asked all veterans and active-duty military to stand. A U.S. Air Force veteran, Moody serves as trustee of the American Legion Post 180 and manages the Danvers Veterans Council. He served in Vietnam, Operation Desert Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
“We have a storied history in the town of Danvers,” he said. “It is our hope that everyone leaves here today with a better understanding and a renewed appreciation of all the veterans who went before and who are serving today.”
During his speech, Roy spoke of Moody's organization, Operation Troop Support, which has delivered 900,000 care packages to deployed U.S. soldiers since its founding in 2003. “As a disabled Vietnam combat veteran, myself, I know what a care package meant,” said Roy, reminiscing of the time his girlfriend, and now wife of 50 years, sent him a package from home.
In the crowd was veteran Alden Duffill, 75, of Danvers who served in the Medical Service Corps of the U.S. Army in Washington, D.C. He also completed a tour of duty in Thailand during the Vietnam War era. “People need to be reminded of the people who have guaranteed their freedom,” he said of the ceremony.
Through their local church, Duffill met U.S. Navy veteran Leo Curda, who attends the annual ceremony. “It’s always interesting to see who will be back each year,” said Curda, 90.
Veterans agent Peter Mirandi, who served in the U.S. Coast Guard during the Vietnam War era, read a proclamation from Gov. Charlie Baker. He concluded his speech by reciting a letter written by Congressman Seth Moulton.
“Veterans sign a blank check, payable with their lives, their health and their livelihoods to help uphold the ideas of America,” Moulton wrote. “Veterans Day gives us time to come together as Americans as we honor those who serve.”
But our thanks, he says, is not enough, as 20 veterans die each day by suicide. “I am fighting in Congress to get our nation’s veterans the support and resources they deserve.”
“The more we connect as people, the more our community comes together,” Moulton wrote.
Before the ceremony concluded, everyone was invited to participate in a memorial wreath placement outside followed by a gun salute and playing of taps. Veterans, parents, children and community members placed a small American flag in the wreath in memory of a veteran.