Michael Puzo Welcomes Veterans to Hingham’s Observance of Veterans Day

On Tuesday, November 11th, Hemenway Trust Company managing partner and Hingham Town Moderator, Michael Puzo, presided at the town’s annual observance of Veterans Day. The ceremony started promptly at 11 AM, on the 11th day of the 11th month, following the tradition established in 1918, when the first Armistice Day took place, commemorating the signing of the Armistice and the end of World War I.

Michael greeted those assembled with these opening remarks:

"We gather today, as we rightly do each year, to honor and to thank those who have served our country as members of our nation’s armed forces and whom we are proud to call “veterans”.

In so many ways, Hingham is a town that holds true to its traditions… to self-governance through open town meeting…to our July 4th parade… to maintaining excellence in our schools and in the services we provide to the citizens of this town, both young and old…to our commitment to voluntarism, to stepping up to do the work of the community of which we are part, whether on a local, state or national level.

In assembling today, we do so out of an enduring commitment to the veterans of this town, and, by extension, to all our nation’s veterans. Today, in words, in song, and in the recounting of tales of selfless conduct, often rendered quietly and with little fanfare, we pay tribute to our veterans and to Hingham’s reverence for traditions that mark what is best in us. Our veterans have given of themselves and stand before us as models of good conduct and moral rectitude; let us remain firm in our resolve to serve their needs and the needs of their families, both today and in the years to come."

The event saw over 250 townspeople in attendance, including Gold Star and Blue Star Families, and scores of veterans, joined by local and state officials, and members of the Hingham High School Band and the Hingham High School Veterans Appreciation Club.