Derry puts on a full slate of Veterans Day activities dedicated to honoring veterans – and the honors start even before the day begins.
Things in Derry kick off Monday, Nov. 10, from 8 to 9:30 a.m. with a Veterans Breakfast at West Running Brook Middle School. Also that day is a Veterans Thank You event at the Taylor Library from noon to 2 p.m. Light refreshments will be served and the public is invited.
On Veterans Day itself, Tuesday, Nov. 11, activities begin with a free Breakfast held at the Pinkerton Academy Freshman Cafeteria beginning at 7 a.m. This will be followed by a service at 10 a.m. at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church across from MacGregor Park.
A ceremony honoring America’s newest veterans, sponsored by the combined efforts of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1617, American Legion Post 9, the Ladies & Men’s Auxiliary VFW Post 1617, the Ladies Auxiliary American Legion Post 9, and the Derry Parks and Recreation Department, will get underway at 10:30 a.m. at MacGregor Park. Guest speaker is Retired Sergeant Major USMC Paul Chevalier.
Remarks will also be made by Carl Starosciak, commander of VFW Post 1617. The Invocation will be delivered by Cindy Vaiani, Ladies Auxiliary VFW Post 1617. Julie Huss will sing “America the Beautiful” and a Veterans Day Proclamation from the Derry Town Council will be read. This will be followed by remarks from Kim Copson, VFW Ladies Auxiliary District 7 President; P.C. Alger, American Legion Auxiliary Department Historian; and Sylvia Landry, VFW Post 1617 President of the Ladies Auxiliary.
A Salute to the Colors by the American Legion Post 9 Color Guard will be followed by the Pledge of Allegiance led by Bob Copson, VFW Post 1617 Men’s Auxiliary President. Huss will then sing the National Anthem, and the benediction will be delivered by Chaplain Charlton Morrison of VFW Post 1617.
After the ceremonies conclude at MacGregor Park, the public is invited to an Open House and Post Home Rededication Ceremony at VFW Post 1617 at noon. The flagpole and restored 1964 Nike-Ajax missile with time capsule will be rededicated. Visits to Aurora Senior Living from 1:30 to 2 p.m., Birch Heights from 2:30 to 3 p.m., and Pleasant Valley from 3:30 to 4 p.m. will be made by the members of VFW Post 1617 and American Legion Post 9.
