November eleventh, Veterans’ Day, is one of the most important dates on the calendar for many Americans. It is a great opportunity for citizens to celebrate and acknowledge the sacrifices made by the members of the American armed forces.
Veterans’ Day is often confused with Memorial Day. They are two distinct holidays, Veterans’ Day being in November and the other being the last Monday of May. Memorial Day celebrates the service men and women who passed during times of war. Veterans’ Day is intended for the celebration of all who have served in the armed forces, deceased or not. They are both crucial federal holidays for the recognition of the men and women who have fought for their country.
Veterans’ Day, officially established in 1954, has historically been a holiday filled with ceremonies across the nation to commemorate the service of those who served. These ceremonies come in all different forms, but they all have the general purpose of observing the great heroes of America, warriors who have served their country. The town of Hingham had an excellent ceremony of their own in the Hingham Town Hall.
On November 11, 2024, at 11:00 AM, the town of Hingham hosted its annual Veterans’ Day Observance run by the Town of Hingham Veterans’ Department. It began in the Sandborn Auditorium, featuring the Hingham High School Band, shown in the image above.
Throughout the program, touching remarks from Michael Puzo, Phil Anderson, Joseph Fisher, and Keith Jermyn included a mix of amusing stories, recollections of some of the town’s great veterans, and finally the awarding of the prized Veteran of the Year Award. In between comments and speeches was the Hingham High School Band, playing an array of patriotic tunes for the audience, especially veterans, to enjoy.
The band commenced the performance by accompanying Nicholas Roche in the National Anthem. The suite that followed included tunes such as the “March-of-the-Irish Guard,” ”American Heritage,” “God Bless America,” and a favorite of many of the members in attendance- the “Armed Forces Medley.” This song in particular was a favorite for many because when the veterans heard their particular branches’ song, they would stand up and receive applause from the audience. Their smiles of appreciation were very empowering and touching to many.
Members of the Hingham High School Band all found this performance to be very impactful after seeing the veterans’ gracious reactions. In particular, Casey Salerno, a baritone saxophonist for the band, outlined the importance of the ceremony by stating, “I think it’s important for [the band] to show support for people of our country by doing what we do best. By coming together and performing, we not only represent the band’s values of supporting everyone, we also show appreciation for everyone who has fought for us.”
Similarly, Landy Vittorini, a trombonist for the band, also had a similar sentiment on the importance of playing for the veterans in attendance. He stated, “When Hingham High School band students perform at the Veteran’s Day ceremony, they don’t just play notes-they honor the sacrifices of our heroes, unite our community, and embody the spirit of gratitude and remembrance.”
The performance brought by the band was not only a joy for the musicians to play, but it was also a treat for the veterans to listen to it. Their unwavering gratitude for the band was a great showcase for the bond that can be built in the Hingham community via music and the arts. Many of the veterans praised the band members with gratitude for their appreciation of their fellow servicemen and women’s sacrifice.
Mr. Cincotta, who shares a similar message on how the music community helps commemorate the nation’s warriors, stated, “We have the capacity as musicians to engage with our community on a deep and meaningful level, elevating ceremonies and traditions like this. By taking part, we show ourselves to be a valued and important part of that community. Moreover, it’s such a simple way for us to show our appreciation for those who have done so much to protect the values we hold dear.”
To close the ceremony, after the observation inside the auditorium, the ceremony was taken outside for the “Firing Three Volleys” tradition.
Although any ceremony or honoring of the nation’s veterans would never truly be enough to quantify their sacrifices for their country, observations like these run by the town and the tremendous Town of Hingham Veterans’ Department are an appreciated recognition. Attending ceremonies such as the one in Hingham, donating to foundations, or even acts as simple as praising veterans for their service are all helpful ways to honor our servicemen and women for their aid in protecting our country. These activities do not have to be on Veterans’ Day, as citizens should be inclined to do these all year round.
