Belchertown, Ludlow prepare for Veterans DayDate: 10/30/2023 With Veterans Day approaching, both Belchertown and Ludlow get ready to honor and support those who have served.
Ludlow
Ludlow’s Veteran Service Director Eric Segundo said all residents are invited to take part in a ceremony to honor the local veterans on Saturday, Nov. 11 at 10 a.m. in the Ludlow High School auditorium, 500 Chapin St.
Those who served will be honored and there will be award presentations for veteran of the year and the winners for the Patriot’s Pen and Voice of Democracy will also be announced.
The Patriot’s Pen Program is for any student from grades 6-8 while the Voice of Democracy program is for any student grades 9-12 and both include potential prizes and scholarships for the winners.
This year’s Patriot’s Pen theme was “How are you inspired by America?” and the Voice of Democracy theme was “What are the greatest attributes of our Democracy?”
Other awards that will be announced are Teacher of the Year, Organization of the Year, Business of the Year, Volunteer of the Year and children and youth awards.
There will also be guest speakers including legislators and town officials.
Belchertown
Residents are asked to gather at Belchertown High School’s Veterans’ Memorial Auditorium, 142 Springfield Rd., at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday Nov. 11.
The ceremony will begin with the ringing of the bell and will also include performances from the schools’ band and choruses and remarks from government officials.
Belchertown Veterans’ Agent Charly Olivia said that this year the event will include the pinning of Marine Corps Sergeant Kevin McMenamin with his Purple Heart, 54 years after he was combat wounded in Vietnam.
The Purple Heart is a United States military medal awarded to those wounded or killed while serving.
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