“Veterans tend to be proud, self sufficient, they don’t like to ask for help,” says Vee Chipperini, by way of explaining why — what with the skyrocketing cost of food — Wednesday’s annual Veterans Day program at Gloucester High School will include a food drive.
Chipperini, the district director of Cape Ann Veterans Services, knows of what she speaks. She spent a year of her five years service in the Army in Iraq, and does not mince words about how difficult things got when she returned to civilian life. “I was trying to raise a family,” she says. “It was tough.”
For veterans too proud to go to The Open Door on Emerson Avenue, The Open Door has for some time been sending food across the street to the veterans office in generously packed bags.
But Wednesday, Cape Ann’s food pantry’s taking it right to the source, with an Open Door truck stationed at the entrance to Gloucester High School, so that all who attend 9 a.m. ceremony in the auditorium can bring donations for collection.
Cans of soup and cereals are top of the wish list, but all canned goods and non-perishable food items will be gratefully accepted. The idea, says Chipperini, is that instead of just honoring those who’ve served, “we highlight practical ways the community can support veterans, and destigmatize their need to ask for help.”
This year, the Gloucester community will also hear from a veteran who, after 33 much decorated years in the Army including combat duty in Afghanistan, returned to his native Cape Ann to found a special veterans writers group at the Gloucester Writers Center, of which he is now executive director.
That would be the morning’s keynote speaker, retired U.S. Army Lt. Col. Kevin L. Perrin, whose love of writing brings a new perspective to this year’s keynote address. Perrin’s address, “The Voice of Story,” reflects on narrative healing and honoring the living memories of our veterans by actively listening to what they have to say.
Later, at 7 p.m. — concluding a day which will include the announcement of a major restoration initiative, the Gloucester Veterans Honor Roll Plaque Project — Perrin will host a sold-out Veterans Day edition of the Gloucester Writers Center’s popular “Fish Tales: True Stories, Told Live,” titled “Veterans: What It Means, What It Meant.” This storytelling evening brings veterans and community members together at the Gloucester Stage Company to share real, personal, unvarnished experiences of military service, homecoming, and community life.
Veterans Day events
This year, Veterans Day is Wednesday, Nov. 11, and cities and towns on Cape Ann will holdceremonies and programs to observe the holiday. City and town offices, schools and other government buildings will be closed for the day. Due to the holiday, there will be a one-day delay for trash and recycling pickup routes in Gloucester and Manchester-by-the-Sea. Here’s what’s happening:
Gloucester
The city of Gloucester and the Cape Ann Office of Veterans Services welcome all to join in celebrating Veterans Day on Wednesday, Nov. 11. Here is the schedule:
9 a.m. — Main Veterans Day Ceremony, Gloucester High School auditorium, 32 Leslie O. Johnson Road.
Veterans Food Drive, in conjunction with the observance. Please bring non-perishable canned goods and pantry staples to Gloucester High School entrance. Donations will directly benefit The Open Door’s food pantries supporting Cape Ann families and veterans in need.
10:30 a.m. — Armistice Day Parade departs Gloucester High School, to Washington Street then Capt. Lester S. Wass American Legion Post 3, 8 Washington St. The Cape Ann Transportation Authority (CATA) Trolley will provide continuous shuttle service for attendees needing transportation assistance.
11 a.m. — Armistice Day Wreath-Laying Ceremony and Luncheon, Capt. Lester S. Wass American Legion Post 3, 8 Washington St.
Noon — Vietnam Veterans Memorial Service, Vietnam Memorial, corner of Western and Hough avenues.
Volunteer call for Saturday, Nov. 14: Cemetery Flag Retrieval to remove over 6,000 American flags from graves across Gloucester’s municipal cemeteries in preparation for their formal, dignified retirement. To volunteer, call the Cape Ann Veterans Service office at 978- 325-5730 or check out its social media pages.
Rockport
Rockport American Legion Observance, 10:30 a.m. at Edward Peterson Post 98, 32 Beach St., Rockport. All welcome.
Manchester-by-the-Sea
Manchester-by-the-Sea American Legion Service, 11 a.m. at Amaral-Bailey Post 113, 14 Church St., led by Cmdr. Allan Kirker. Service saluting our troops will be held inside the post hall. A collation to follow; all welcome. Questions? 978-526-4591.
Essex
There is no ceremony this year. Instead, veterans were treated to breakfast last week by the Council on Aging, an event which kicked off an exhibition of photographs of the town’s veterans, which are on display at the Essex Senior Center, 17 Pickering St. A contingent of Essex veterans will attend the ceremony at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Ipswich Veterans War Memorial on South Main Street in Ipswich. On Tuesday, Nov. 10, Essex American Legion 231 President David Oliver, a Marine veteran, will be one of the speakers at Northern Essex Community College’s flag-raising ceremony and commemoration.