Hingham Veterans Honored on Memorial Day

At 11:00 a.m. precisely, the sound of a bugle floated over Hingham Common on Memorial Day Monday.

For the military personnel present, it was a reminder of times spent in the service of their country and for the rest of the crowd it signaled the beginning of an annual ceremony of thanks for the sacrifices made by veterans.

The beautiful weather brought a large turnout to the common and the patriotic nature of the event saw many adorned with the Stars and Stripes. Music was provided by the Hingham High School Band who played a selection of tunes that were familiar to all the old soldiers in the crowd.

The National Anthem was impeccably performed by Kalli Jermyn, her father Keith, director of the Hingham Veterans Services stood proudly to attention as she took center stage before various town officials gave their own thanks to the servicemen and women of the armed forces.

Colonel Frank Curtis, a highly decorated officer and Hingham resident, had been invited to speak and his emotional story of a fallen comrade hit exactly the right tone on a day when remembering others is key. After Col. Curtis had taken a well-deserved round of applause, Town Clerk Eileen McCracken read the names of 54 Hingham veterans who had passed away in the last year, a bell being rung to mark their contribution in the service of the military.

The occasion will always require the placing of wreaths and local scouts were given these floral tributes that were laid on the memorial stones at the Common and in the harbor to honor those lost at sea.

As the final bugle sounded, the veterans all stood with their hands on their hearts. This was their moment to pay their respects to friends that died on a foreign field, far away from the country of their birth. We owe them a debt that can never be repaid.