Former US Army Chief of Staff to Speak at Hingham Memorial Day Service

The is proud to announce that the former United States Army Chief of Staff, General George W. Casey Jr. will be the guest speaker at Hingham’s Annual Memorial Day Observance.

It has been a long tradition  in Hingham to honor veterans at the Memorial Day Service and the Hingham Veterans Council is pleased that the US Army Chief of Staff will be taking part of the annual event this Monday.

“We’re just fortunate to have him,” said Hingham Veterans Services Director Keith Jermyn.

Jermyn said event organizers wrote General Casey a letter to invite him and were very pleased when he accepted. Casey will deliver a speech and honor Hingham veterans in attendance on Monday.

Casey served as the senior coalition commander in Iraq from June 2004 to February 2007. In January 2007, President George W. Bush nominated Casey for elevation to Chief of Staff of the Army.  He relinquished his position to Gen. Martin Dempsey on April 11 and formally retires next week.  Casey does have ties to Massachusetts as he graduated from Boston College High School in the 60’s.

Monday’s Ceremony will begin promptly at 11: 00 a.m. at Veterans Memorial Park located at Hingham Center.

All  Hingham Veterans and their families will be attending the ceremony and will be pre-positioned on the street.  Honor/Color Guards will be in the park, and the General Public is invited to congregate in the Commons.

The Band will be playing patriotic music while and Hingham Boy Scouts will conduct the presentation of the wreath.  There will be rifle salutes and Town Moderator Thomas L.P. O’Donnell will acknowledge Public Officials.

A luncheon for veterans will follow at the G.A.R. Hall. Ice cream and drinks will be served to the Scouts and other children who participate in the ceremony at the field across from the park.

In the event of inclement weather, the entire Ceremony will be conducted at the Hingham High School. Students will be offered refreshments in the lobby. Veterans Luncheon will remain at GAR Hall.

The Hingham Veterans Services Office is responsible for processing and distributing benefits to veterans and their families in accordance with state law. This office also provides assistance to qualifying veterans and their families in the areas of health care, job placement, disability compensation, and retraining programs and occasionally provides transportation.