Agawam honors area's veterans

Date: 11/16/2010

Nov. 17, 2010

By Katelyn Gendron

Assistant Editor

AGAWAM -- Edward Disco tried in vain to stop his tears as he listened to the national anthem during the Veterans Day ceremony on Nov. 11. He, along with fellow military veterans and active duty personnel, gathered at the Veterans' Memorial Green on Main Street to honor their fellow comrades.

Disco, a veteran of the United States Navy, earned a Purple Heart for his service in the Pacific from 1943 to 1947.

"Look at the lousy crowd here today. People don't realize what we've done," he said as he looked over the crowd of approximately 75 people.

"Today, we as Americans come together to say thank you," Mayor Richard Cohen told those in attendance. "It has been your sacrifice that has allowed us to assemble today not just as Americans but as truly free Americans . yet we cannot forget that we are a nation still at war."

Richard Girard, director of Western Hampden District's Department of Veterans' Services, who emceed the event, reminded all those in attendance "take the time to say thank you to just one" veteran.

"They did not serve for glory or fame. They just served to preserve our way of life," State Rep. Rosemary Sandlin said.