Kids & Family

Veterans Day Celebration Accented By Surprises

A young man and older men were saluted by the crowd at Monument Monday.



Veterans Day ceremonies at Monument Avenue Monday were buoyed by two surprises, one recognizing a teen and, the other, recognition given in tunes.

Rev. Dean Pedersen led the ceremonies. He made casual observations and invoked memory in his signature voice — at once conversational and stately delivered in asides and quotes.

He called teen Benjamin Chapman and his family from the audience, congratulating Benjamin for his fundraising and personal contributions to the Wounded Warrior project, donating $1,500.

Rev. Pedersen also recalled the holiday's roots in the armistice of World War I. The joy that came with the end to the most gruesome warring known to the world up to that time.

Ninety-five years ago there were two minutes of silence in countries throughout Europe as citizens remembered those who had sacrificed in World War I, he said.

Rev. Pedersen asked for a moment of silence to remember subsequent war sacrifices made by service men and women so good would prevail.

In the silence the circle's big flag flapped and leaves rustled.

Among those in the audience was Diana Litman of Swampscott, mom of state Rep. Lori Ehrlich.

Diana was remembering her brother on this day, her twin brother, Donald Silverman, a member of the US Air Force who was killed in action in Vietnam.

Board of Selectmen Chairman Jill Sullivan addressed the crowd, telling of her respect for veterans. She reflected on insights gained from reading Tim O'Brien's Vietnam War fiction where soldiers share the blood.

There were many veterans in the crowd. And from all branches of the military.

The last surprise was the melodies played by the deejay. 

The songs were the anthems of the respective branches. Each time a tune played the soldiers, sailors, marines and airmen were asked to raise their hands so the crowd could salute their service.











Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here