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Wellesley Veterans Day ceremony honors those who served

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Wellesley recognized Veterans Day on Monday during a ceremony at Town Hall at which around 75 attendees paid their respects to those who have served in all branches of the United States military. Originally called Armistice Day, Veterans Day is celebrated on November 11 each year because that is the anniversary of the signing of the Armistice that ended World War I in 1918.

In 1954, the holiday’s name was changed to “Veterans Day” to honor all vets, living or deceased, in all wars. “We must honor and remember and celebrate those who are here today and those who are not,” said Joe Olivieri, Wellesley’s Veterans’ Graves & Ceremonial Officer. Oliveiri served two tours with the Marine Corp., one in Afghanistan in 2002 and one in Iraq in 2006.

Lorelei King Wellesley Veterans Day
Army Sergeant Lorelei King spoke during a salute to the dead. King and Marine Corp. Sergeant Pete Jones then retired a ceremonial Prisoners of War/Missing in Action flag by folding it into a crisp triangle. The black flag was draped over an empty chair during the ceremony to symbolize military members living and dead who have not yet come home.  Jones, currently active in Wellesley Legion Post 72, offered up the sobering statistics: “There are 70k still unaccounted for from WWII; 8,100 from Korea; 12 from the Cold War; 1,810 from Viet Nam; and 3 from the Gulf War,” he said.

 

Roy Switzler Veterans day 2019
Army Sergeant Royall Switzler offered a benediction.
veterans day girl scouts
A group of 7 Wellesley Girl Scouts led the crowd of about 75 in the Pledge of Allegiance, then spoke some heartfelt words. “We will never fully understand what you were required to do and how you were able to do it…but what we offer you is this. We see you. Thank you for your service. You will not be forgotten.”
John Dirlam, Wellesley Veterans Day 2019
John Dirlam, MassBay history professor and Navy veteran, gave a riveting lesson on Wellesley residents’ contributions in World War I and II, and the story of Veterans Day and its place in American history. In 1954, after having been through both World War II and the Korean War, the 83rd U.S. Congress — at the urging of the veterans service organizations — amended the Act of 1938 by striking out the word “Armistice” and inserting the word “Veterans.” With the approval of this legislation on June 1, 1954, Nov. 11 became a day to honor American veterans of all wars. In 1968, the Uniforms Holiday Bill ensured three-day weekends for federal employees by celebrating four national holidays on Mondays: Washington’s Birthday, Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and Columbus Day. Under this bill, Veterans Day was moved to the fourth Monday of October, leading to much confusion about the day the holiday should officially be observed. Then on September 20, 1975, President Gerald R. Ford signed a law which returned the annual observance of Veterans Day to its original date of Nov. 11, beginning in 1978. Since then, the Veterans Day holiday has been observed on November 11.

veterans day lorelei king
Wellesley Honor Guard.
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