Rep. Hannah Kane Hosts Armed Forces Day Event

More than one hundred active and retired military personnel and their families joined local elected and appointed officials and community members and State Representative Hannah Kane to commemorate Armed Forces Day with an event held Veterans’ Inc. in Shrewsbury, on Saturday, May 16.

Representative Kane was joined by Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito, Massachusetts Secretary of Veterans’ Affairs Francisco Urena, and co-hosts State Senator Michael Moore, State Senator Jamie Eldridge, State Representative Danielle Gregoire, State Representative David Muradian and State Representative Harold Naughton, a member of the Army Reserve, who together, along with Senator Harriette Chandler and Representative Carolyn Dykema who could not be present, represent the Central MA Veteran’s Service District of Shrewsbury, Westborough, Northborough and Grafton, said an announcement.

Armed Forces Day was created in 1949 by then US Secretary of Defense, Louis Johnson, to replace separate Army, Navy and Air Force Days and unify all branches of the military under the Department of Defense.

Community members of all ages came together to share in a continental breakfast, recall the history of each branch of the military, enjoy listening to the National Anthem and God Bless America sung by Shrewsbury High School student Carly O’Brien, and hear poems read by Shrewsbury Public Schools students Matthew Clark, Aiden Wells and Paulina Hruskoci, Westborough Public Schools student Madeline French and Northborough Public Schools student Kazunari Conway. The Grafton Job Corps’ Color Guard presented the colors, Matthew Clark and Aiden Wells, members of Boy Scout Troop 114 from Shrewsbury led the Pledge of Allegiance, and Reverend Richard Carey offered a prayer. Local author, Korean War Veteran and former Superintendent of the Shrewsbury Public Schools Dr. John P. Collins sold signed copies of his book, “A Korean War Memoir,” with all proceeds donated to Veterans’ Inc., said the release.

Other elected and appointed officials in attendance included Director of Veterans’ Services for Central Massachusetts Adam Costello, Shrewsbury Veterans’ Agent Mike Perna, Shrewsbury Selectman Jim Kane, Northborough Selectman William Pantazis, Westborough School Committeewoman Jody Hensley, Westborough School Superintendent Amber Bock, Shrewsbury Fire Chief Jim Vuona, and Vice President and Founding Member of the Central Massachusetts Chapter of the Blue Star Mothers JoAnn Bauer. Matt Beaton, former State Representative and current Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs was also in attendance.

State Representative Kane in an announcement said, “Armed Services Day is an opportunity to celebrate all military service and honor those among us in our communities that committed themselves to a life of service and sacrifice. It is an opportunity for our next generation to sit with those who have served and offer words of gratitude and understanding of their noble sacrifice of service. While those who serve are chiefly responsible for protecting our precious freedom, it is those of us who haven’t served who are tasked with the critical role of never forgetting our protectors.”

Photo submitted