Burlington Honoring Veterans this Sunday

The following is a release from Burlington's Director of Veteran Affairs Robert Hogan:

The Burlington Office of Veterans Services wishes to invite everyone to our 2012 Veterans Day program this Sunday, Nov. 11, at 9 a.m., on the Burlington Town Common.

The theme this year is honoring and remembering Vietnam veterans, as this is the beginning year of the 50th Anniversary of the Vietnam War. In 1962 the first combat missions against the Vietcong occurred when in Operation Chopper, helicopters flown by US Army pilots began to ferry South Vietnamese troops to sweep the enemy’s stronghold near Saigon.

Our guest speaker for the day will be Chaplain (Colonel) Bill Mark from the E.N. Rogers VA Hospital in Bedford. He was with us when the Moving Wall was here in 1999, and he will be joining us this year as we remember that visit with a display of items left at the Wall. The “Items Left at the Moving Wall” exhibit will be on display for the first time on Veterans Day, immediately after the 9am ceremony ends.

The exhibit will be on the second floor of the Human Services Building. Coffee will be available, and the collation at the American Legion Post will be held beginning at 11a.m. at the Winn Street Post.

We will also be joined by the Burlington high school marching band, and drum line. We will be raising a Vietnam Service Flag to fly below the U.S. Flag on the flag pole on our town common, and during the ceremony we will also be raising a very large (18ft x 26ft) U.S. Flag, weather permitting. And, Vietnam veterans in attendance will be handed small Vietnam Service hat/collar pins.

We are not forgetting other veterans on this day, as we always thank all who served, here and abroad, in peace and in war, for their service to this country.

This year’s host organization is the Burlington Detachment of the Marine Corps League, who will raise Old Glory to help begin the ceremony and will place a wreath in honor of all who served.

For more information, contact Bob Hogan (Vietnam 67/68) or Betty McDonough at 781-270-1959.