NORTH ANDOVER — Veterans, their families, town and school officials and the community gathered for the annual Veterans Day ceremony Tuesday, which included the rededication of the North Andover Middle School auditorium’s Veterans Memorial Wall.
But first, hundreds of people lined Main Street for the annual parade on a chilly morning with snow flurries in the air.
Once inside the middle school, Patriotic Observance Committee Chair and Retired U.S. Army First Sgt. David Hruban commended the work to update the Veterans Memorial Auditorium’s facade, complete with a new memorial plaque honoring the town’s veterans.
The Patriotic Observance Committee, in conjunction with the town’s Veterans Services Office, with the support of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post and a state grant, were able to see the renovations through with the refurbishment of the original lettering outside the auditorium and the design and installation of the plaque.
“The significance of this location and this plaque where the next generation of our youth pass by every morning, in my opinion, is noteworthy,” Hruban said. “I hope it serves to remind them of the sacrifice of the generations that came before them that made it possible for them to be allowed to study freely and safely.”
U.S Army veteran Staff Sgt. Joseph LeBlanc, who also serves as the North Andover and Boxford Veterans Services director, then led the ceremony, highlighting the day as one to honor and pay tribute to those who served both in peace and war time.
“We owe them a debt that we can never repay,” LeBlanc said.
He also paid gratitude to the men and women serving now with the hope that they return home safely and join the ranks of veterans who have served before them.
The crowd applauded and honored the veterans in attendance throughout the ceremony as they were recognized by the speakers. Veterans were then honored and stood as the official song of their branch was performed in a patriotic melody by the high school band. The melody played through 11:11 a.m.
Guest speaker U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Connor Flynn spoke about the impact veterans have had on those who continue to serve.
Flynn, a North Andover native, has been deployed multiple times, including tours of duty in Iraq, Syria, and Afghanistan. He now serves in the officer selection division in Boston.
Flynn is a graduate of North Andover Middle School and Phillips Academy. He talked about his 8th grade English teacher, Greg Mendoza, as one of his most formative instructors who, it turned out, was also a U.S. Army veteran.
“I really do feel that I’m standing on the shoulders of giants because all of you that came before us inspired my generation to continue to carry the banner,” Flynn said to the many veterans in attendance.
“This rededication of the memorial wall is in honor of all of our veterans and all of you. Your service has been an inspiration to generations to follow, to be men and women of character and to dedicate themselves to the service of others.”