Local veterans, public officials, and civilians gathered at George Dilboy VFW Post #529 for a special day of celebration and appreciation for those who served their country.

By Jim Clark

On Saturday, November 10, members of the community, along with city and state leaders, joined members of George Dilboy VFW Post #529 in honoring those who served our country in the military as part of the Veterans Day celebration weekend.

The proceedings led off with Mayor Joseph Curtatone addressing those present, praising the valiant contributions that these and all other veterans have made in helping to ensure the nation’s security throughout the years.

“As we remember our veterans, both Somerville’s own heroes and those who served and continue to serve our great nation, as well as our first responders who continue to serve us every day and keep us out of harm’s way,” Curtatone said.

The mayor pointed out that Veterans Day, November 11, 2018 coincided with the 100 year anniversary of the end of World War I, as well as the centennial observance of the death of George Dilboy, after whom the VFW post was named.

“Just last night we honored three local heroes with Veteran of the Year awards,” Curtatone continued. “Once again I want to congratulate the veteran police officer Mr. Samir Messaoudi, and veteran firefighter Mr. Michael Jefferson. And once again we honored the citizen veteran of the year, someone who has continued to serve since his original enlistment and honorable discharge from his service in Vietnam and kept the spirit of George Dilboy and the spirit of all those who served and sacrificed on behalf of the community and country, Bobby Hardy. I want to give Bobby a big round of applause again.”

Next, the President of the Somerville Board of Aldermen, Ward 7 Alderman Katjana Ballantyne addressed the gathering saying, “On behalf of myself and the Board of Aldermen, we would like to thank all the veterans for their service to our country, but also to their families, the people that supported our active military people while they were overseas, and also as they have come back into our communities. Veterans are elected officials in our town. They work in fire and the police. They work in volunteering, to make sure that our community is a compassionate community, and is a community that pays attention to the neighbors around you. So on this day as we are celebrating our Veterans Day, I thank you all very much what you did, what you continue to do on behalf of our community.”

State Representative Denise Provost then took to the podium to say a few words. “I’m impressed that you’re all here on this damp and rainy and cold morning,” Provost began. “But that actually connects to the kind of thanks that I want to express today for veterans. And that is not just your sacrifice and your response to your call of duty, but the example that you set for everyone. And this is something that, as President Ballantyne says, goes for first responders too. Because your example of sacrifice and responding when your nation calls should remind everyone that life is not all fun all the time. And sometimes the thing to do that’s right is our duty. And veterans exemplify, whether they were conscripted or whether they volunteered, they exemplify answering the call of national good, whatever the personal cost.”

Alderman At-Large Stephanie Hirsch expressed her admiration for the veterans that she spoke with as she campaigned for election to the Board.

Other Board members who were in attendance at the ceremony offered similar expressions of appreciation for the veterans they have affected their personal lives and careers.

Several veterans who were in attendance shared their thoughts, feelings, and experiences concerning their service in the armed forces as well, telling deeply personal stories of valor and loss that brought to light the harsh realities of national service.

Commissioner of Military Affairs and Veteran Services Bryan Bishop offered an inspiring reminder of why it is so important to honor and recognize the contributions and sacrifices made by our military veterans as he spoke to the assembled group.

Commissioner of Military Affairs and Veteran Services Bryan Bishop

“December 7th will make three years that I have been in the city as your Veterans Services Commissioner,” Bishop said. “I feel a part of this community and hearing these stories today reminds me of my twenty years of service in the Air Force. But it also reminds me of something Matt [McLaughlin] just said. That even though Bobby and I are from different generations, being a veteran crosses it all. No matter whether you’re a Day One grunt, or whether you are the highest ranking general who’s put in 40 years in the military. We all served this country because we believe in it. And I think in this day and time we forget what this country stands for. With all of the noise that we hear every single day. I think of my friends who served in this country. My father who served his country in Vietnam. My grandfather who served in World War II and Korea. We are one nation under God, whether you believe in whatever God that is. This country was an idea. It’s an experiment. And every single one of us stood up and raised our right hand, whether we were conscribed to do it or did it on our own volition. We raised our right hand to defend this Constitution of the United States of America. And to further this experiment more and more. Every single day. This young man sitting right here in the Boy Scout uniform, that’s where it begins. It begins when our children are young. A veteran’s not just your grandfather. It’s not just someone who served and has died. It’s an alderman who works in this community tirelessly. It’s a former mayor who served. Myself, who served for 20 years. It’s the young marine who last night we honored. Young army reservist that we honored. This is the future of our country. It’s time to stop listening to the noise and start listening to those who’ve gone before us. We are the United States of America.”

A video of the full ceremony can be viewed on the city’s YouTube channel.