Celebrating our Veterans

When the high school band and the Rams Band declined to partake in this year’s Veterans Day celebration, just one person with a drum responded to a Facebook post looking for a drummer to help keep the aging veterans in step. High school senior Godfrey Griffin who will be attending Berklee School of Music next year led the Holliston veteran’s contingent from Blair Square to town hall all while beating out a drum roll. Thanks Godfrey for your volunteerism.

Griffin wasn’t the only volunteer on this balmy November morning which marks the end of WW1, twenty Leo’s (that younger set of the Lions Club) were out in force to help serve the turkey dinner catered by TJ’s of Ashland and the donated ice cream by TC Scoops of Holliston.

In attendance Monday were Rep. James Arena Derosa, Tina Hein representing the select board, both of Holliston’s Citizens of the Year, Mark Dellicker and Gina Stucchi and the town’s Veterans Service Officer Sarah Batemen as well as the town’s administrator Travis Ahern. Kudo’s were also in order for Walter McGrath for the mailing of invitations and Steve Bradford for their tireless work on behalf of the town’s 500 plus veterans.

Capt. Donald Bates (retired) was singled out for his large donation towards the dinner. The veterans in town have a full plate of coming events this week with a Holliston Police Department appreciation breakfast at Pinecrest Golf on Tuesday morning at 9 am, a veterans suicide prevention program at the Senior Center later Tuesday at 6:30 pm sponsored by the American Legion and on Wednesday from 10 am to 11:30 am the library will host a veterans appreciation coffee and donuts event.

The Knights of Columbus will host a car rally visiting the town’s memorial squares to those killed in action on November 17th at 1:30pm from St. Mary’s parking lot. All proceeds benefit the Thanks to Yanks program. Monday’s dinner was sponsored by the American Legion, Holliston Lions Club and VFW. The number of WW 11 veterans in town now numbers less than eight..