Veterans Day assembly '99 remembers locals who served
Published on November 17th, 1999
STONEHAM, MA - On the eleventh hour of the eleventh day in the eleventh month of this the last year of the Millennium, Stoneham citizens gathered at Town Hall to remember and thank their veterans.
A large crowd of mothers fathers and children filled the auditorium for Veterans' Day 1999. Townspeople of all ages listened to the songs of the Central School Chorus and Greater Boston Academy Chorale and the words of event organizer Paul McDonald and keynote speaker U.S. Army Captain Patrick Jordan, III.
"This is quite a crowd," Town Administrator Jeff Nutting said. "Paul (McDonald) does a great job."
McDonald spoke of the United Service Organization, the USO, segueing into a patriotic set of well-choreographed song and dance numbers from the Central School elementary students. Music Director Geraldine Cruickshank accompanied the children on piano.
High school students from the embattled Greater Boston Academy performed a moving rendition of "Glory Hallelujah." These students may be forced out of their school before graduation due to the financial fiasco surrounding the Boston Regional Medical Center property on which the school sits. But the kids came to Town Hall Thursday to celebrate with the community.
Captain Jordan said some of the men and women with whom he served in Desert Storm were not much older than the Greater Boston Academy students.
"Others were old - 30s or 40s..." Jordan added.
"Hey!" a World War II vet in the back row joked, laughing with his buddies.
In every era the youth of America have responded to the call of their country, Jordan said.
"They're all heroes today," Jordan said. "We salute them."
Impromptu additions complemented the assembly. First, State Representative Mike Festa (D-35th Middlesex) spoke of his father, a World War II veteran, reminding everyone why "this is not a typical Thursday."
Then McDonald read a poem written by Cruickshank last night. She wrote from the perspective of her students. The poem tells veterans, "We are the children. You are our heroes... Remember, we care..."
As the entire assembly sang God Bless America the colors were retired.
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