Somerville commemorates Veterans Day
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Alderman Jack Connolly placed the wreath at Somerville's Veterans Day ceremonies, assisted by World War II veterans John O'Leary and Joe DiMartino. - Photo by Elizabeth Sheeran.

By Elizabeth Sheeran

A veteran is a veteran every day of the year. But November 11 is special.

“It’s a day to honor our veterans. It can’t be more special than that,” said Joe DiMartino, who fought with the infantry during the second Normandy invasion in World War II, and now serves as the chaplain for the Somerville Allied Veterans Council.

“It’s the one day that’s set aside to recognize all veterans, no matter when or where they served,” said Allied Council President Bob Hickey, who served over 12 years’ active duty in the Marine Corps, including during the Persian Gulf War.

Hickey presided over Somerville’s annual Veterans Day ceremonies, held at the George Dilboy VFW Post in Davis Square, which was attended by veterans, city and state officials, and members of the public.

Mayor Joe Curtatone spoke personally with local veterans gathered before the start of the formal ceremonies, before leaving for Boston to be present when wounded Somerville Police Detective Mario Oliveira was released from Massachusetts General Hospital.

Board of Aldermen President Jack Connolly placed the commemorative wreath and thanked the veterans for their service, on behalf of the City of Somerville. He recalled his own parents, who were both veterans. “Those of us who have had the benefit of being raised close to veterans’ families have a truly significant responsibility to our future, to never forget the sacrifices that have been made,” said Connolly.

State Senator Pat Jehlen led the gathering in two minutes of silence and reflection. Stephen Silvestri, a Somerville native who is a Vice-Commander of the Massachusetts Department of the American Legion, acted as the Master of Ceremonies. American Legion Post 447 Commander John O’Leary led the salute to the colors. And Allied Council Chaplain DiMartino offered the closing prayer.

Dilboy Post Commander Bob Hardy said Veterans Day was a chance to recognize the connections shared by all veterans, whether they served in larger, well-known conflicts, like World War II or Vietnam, in lesser-known campaigns, such as Grenada or Lebanon, or on peacetime missions. Hardy said every conflict has had its own unique challenges, but all veterans are united by their service to their country.

“We are all one,” said Hardy, a Vietnam veteran.

Somerville Allied Veterans Council President Bob Hickey (left) addressed veterans, public officials and members of the public at Somerville's Veterans Day ceremonies.

Somerville resident Lauren Bell, who brought her four-year-old son and two-year-old niece to the ceremony, said she attended her first local Veterans Day commemoration a few years ago, when she had been thinking of taking the day to go shopping.

“I thought, ‘that’s not right.’ If I can’t spend a few minutes saying ‘thank you,’ then I don’t need to go to the mall,” said Bell, whose late father served in Korea and who has friends who have served. “We’ve come ever since, and I’ve tried to say, ‘thank you for serving for us.’ It’s the least we can do.”

Hardy said it means a lot to veterans to see people like Bell at the ceremony. “That’s why we serve,” said Hardy, pointing to the children. “That’s our future.”

For Chaplain DiMartino, the true meaning of the day was reflected in the poem he selected to read during the ceremony, a verse entitled Veterans Day Gratitude, written by Rita Strong for Henry A. Strong of the American Legion Post 25 in Holyoke:

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Gathered are we to observe, in a very special way,

What once was named Armistice, is now Veterans Day.

To each and every veteran, who answered duties call,

Coming to our country’s aid, we thank you one and all.

This designated day is yours, for serving America well.

You fought the fight for freedom and know war is hell.

Lost limbs and broken minds, a price some veterans made

Debt for those services rendered, can never be repaid.

Forget we not the comrades, who died to keep man free.

They sacrificed their lives, for the cause of liberty.

Americans proudly remember, what veterans have done,

Keeping free this nation, the best beneath the sun.

Gratitude-filled hearts look upon the past,

Praying for the future, with a peace that will last.