Large Crowd Gathered for Military Service Flag Ceremony

A large crowd came out to the Burlington Town Commons this past Saturday to honor those who defend our country. 

The Burlington Allied Veterans and the Burlington Office of Veterans Services held their Flag Raising ceremony on Saturday, October 19th, to raise the five service flags on five new flagpoles, in the new Burlington Memorial Park on the Town Common, a note from Veterans Director Robert Hogan states. 

Representatives from the five branches of service: Army, Marines, Navy, Coast Guard and Air Force were on hand to raise each flag. Burlington residents Army Brigadier General Jack Hammond (Ret) and Navy Commander Peter Dutton were on hand to introduce their respective flags, as well as Marine Corps Lt. General George Flynn (Ret) and Air Force Colonel Lester Weilacherr to tell us about their service flags.

A large crowd attended as the flagpoles and flags were blessed as they were raised by Father John Capuci of St. Malachy Church, and the Reverand Francesco Passamonte,Major, USAF (ret).

Army Colonel Cheryl Poppe, the Deputy Secretary of Massachusetts Veterans Services represented the state in honoring all who served in one of the branches of the five servgcies honored with the raising of the flags.