Recognizing Veterans Day and veterans’ service to the country can be a unifying force in divisive times, speakers said during Tuesday morning’s Veterans Day Ceremony at Gloucester High.
“We are living in uncertain times right now,” Mayor Greg Verga said. “With growing tensions and ongoing struggles it is days like this that remind us of what it’s all about: unity, respect, civility and service.
“As we navigate these challenges, we need to hold on to the same sense of unity and purpose to help and support one another. This is something our veterans embody every day.”
Retired Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer Mark Robinson, Gloucester High School’s Navy JROTC naval science instructor, who served at Coast Guard Station Gloucester for a time during his distinguished two-decade career, gave the keynote address and recognized the history and service of the U.S. Coast Guard.
“Our motto, ‘Semper Paratus,’ which means ‘Always Ready,’ embodies the heart of every veteran — always ready to serve; always ready to protect; always ready to sacrifice,” Robinson said. “One of the most powerful things about the military is that it unites people from every background, every race, religion and region. When we put on the uniform, differences fade away. You become something larger than yourself, a team bound by a common mission and a shared code of honor.
“That same spirit of unity is what we could all benefit from today and into the future.”
About 150 people, including veterans, residents, police and fire officials, Sea Cadets and scouts, were treated to two student performances during the ceremony.
The first was O’Maley Innovation Middle School sixth-grader Maeve Moran, 11, singing the “The Star-Spangled Banner,” and the second was Essex Tech freshman Alessandro Schoc singing and playing keyboard for a moving rendition for veterans of the Leonard Cohen song, “Hallelujah” to a slideshow of Gloucester heroes projected on a screen.
Boy Scout Troop 60 led the Pledge of Allegiance, American Legion Post 3 Chaplain Paul Krueger gave the invocation and David G. Ouellet Gloucester Division Petty Officer 1st Class Jaeden Chipperini read Gov. Maura Healey’s Veterans Day Proclamation.
Following her son’s reading of governor’s proclamation, Cape Ann Veterans Services District Director Vionette “Vee” Chipperini spoke about how Veterans Day falls on Armistice Day, which was first proclaimed by President Woodrow Wilson in 1919 to mark the end of hostilities during World War I, “the war to end all wars,” on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918.
In 1954, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed legislation renaming Armistice Day to Veterans Day expanding its purpose to honor all who served past, present and future.
“Here in the city of Gloucester, we come together to express our deepest gratitude and unwavering support to the veterans and active-duty service members who proudly call our community home,” Chipperini said.
“This is a unifying event that reminds us of what is at the very core of our citizenship,” State Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr, R-Gloucester said.
The last couple of weeks have illuminated the character of the community.
“As has been mentioned at the microphone,” Tarr said, “we do face times that are divisive, too often acrimonious and so often things that seem counterproductive in our lives and in our society. But in this community, we continue to find meaning and purpose in recognizing and honoring our veterans.”
Tarr said he was honored to be at The Open Door for a special food distribution.
“The Open Door, realizing that those in military service would be affected by the government shutdown and might not be able to afford the basic necessities of life in the form of food, and right up the street, on Emerson Avenue, people from all across this community turned out time and again to make donations to distribute food and to say to those who have served our nation, ‘You are part of our family and we will not let you go without,’” he said.
“Today, I challenge each of us, veterans and civilians alike, to carry forward the same torch of unity,” Robinson said of what it means to serve. “Let us strive to understand our differences, let us listen more, judge less and remember that the flag we honor flies for all of us.”
Rounding out the ceremony, Gloucester High senior Jude Worthley and Jim Dalpiaz of the Gloucester Elks Lodge No. 892 performed “taps” before the Rev. Rona Tyndall of the West Gloucester Trinitarian Congregational Church gave the benediction.
The Gloucester High School NJROTC Color Guard marched in a parade of fire trucks and police cars to the Capt. Lester S. Wass Post 3 American Legion for a wreath laying at the Joan of Arc Monument on Washington Street. A noon Vietnam Memorial Reflection Service was held at the Vietnam Memorial.
Ethan Forman may be contacted at 978-675-2714, or at eforman@northofboston.com.