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Health & Fitness

Veterans Day Events 2012

Melrose Veteran Services Officer Ryan McLane provides and overview of Melrose-centered events honoring and supporting Veterans Day 2012.

Veterans Day is set aside to honor men and women who raised their right hand and swore to protect their nation.  Around the country, cities and towns, in conjunction with veteran organizations and supporters, will honor their veteran populations with a variety of events and initiatives. 

Here in Melrose, a city known for its support of veterans around the Commonwealth, will be no different, offering a range of programming designed to say thank you.On behalf of Mayor Rob Dolan and the Melrose Veterans Advisory Board and in conjunction with our great veteran service organizations, we present the following schedule of events. 

 

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Veterans Breakfast and Assembly

Friday November 9th, 2012: 8 a.m.

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Melrose Veterans Memorial Middle School, 350 Lynnfells Pkwy

This annual event features programming from the middle school students celebrating the Melrose veteran population and American patriotism.  Of note in 2012 is the announcement of Operation Thank You, a student-initiative aiming to send Vietnam Era veterans to Washington DC in May.

 

Veterans Day Breakfast

Sunday, November 11th, 2012: 9 a.m.

Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall, 590 Main Street

This breakfast serves as an assembly area for participants in our annual tour of the city’s veteran monuments.  The light breakfast and coffee is offered to all veterans, their families and supporters free of charge.  The Senior Van, donated by the Melrose Council on Aging and driven by AmVets member Bob Mercer will be stationed here to move veterans from monument to monument.

 

Veterans Day Ceremonies

Sunday, November 11th, 2012: 10 a.m.

WWII and Korean War Memorial, 600 Main Street

This annual event features three ceremonies honoring veteran service at the WWII and Korean War Memorial, the Vietnam Memorial and the WWI Memorial commonly known as the Knoll.  Each ceremony will include moments of remembrance for veterans who have passed, guest speakers and traditional military ceremonies.  Of note in 2012 is the inclusion of the middle school’s Operation Thank You group at the Vietnam Memorial, announcing the start of their mission to send Vietnam  Era veterans to Washington DC in May 2013.  These ceremonies will conclude at 1130 a.m. after honoring our WWI population at the Knoll beginning at 11:11 a.m.

 

Suits for Veteran Success

Monday, November 12th, 2012: 10 a.m.

Tailored for Success, 15 Washington Street, Malden

Tailored for Success, a non-profit in Malden, is partnering with Malden and Melrose Veteran Services to offer free business suits to veterans who are looking for success in the job market.  All of the suits are brand new.  All interested veterans must register through their local Veteran services office.

 

Veterans Day Comedy Event for Disabled and Limbless Veterans

Monday, November 12th, 2012: 630 p.m.

Giggles Comedy Club, 517 Broadway, Saugus

Melrose Veteran Services in conjunction with Alderman Bill Forbes is promoting a night of comedy featuring Lenny Clarke and Jimmy Tingle with proceeds benefiting Disabled and Limbless Veterans.  Additonal benefactors of all donations will be the New England Center for Homeless Veterans and The Fischer House.  Tickets are $25.  Please call 781-352-3575 to purchases tickets.

 

Veterans in the Classroom

Friday, November 16th, 2012: 0800 a.m.

Melrose High School, 350 Lynnfells Pkwy Melrose

An annual event designed and run by Melrose High School history teacher Lisa Lord, this event pairs local veterans with high school students in 20-minutes oral history sessions.  Students rotate through and meet the participating veterans to gain a better understanding of what Veterans Day is all about.  Interested veterans can contact Melrose Veteran Services to take part in this event.

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While there are a host of programs sponsored by local groups in honor of Veterans Day, we wanted to highlight a few and invite residents of Melrose to attend as many as possible.  This years schedule was put together in collaboration with representatives from the Melrose Veteran Advisory Board, the SGT Harold O' Young VFW Post, the Lt. Norman Prince VFW Post, the local American Legion Chapter and AmVets Post 21. 

Ongoing veteran projects in Melrose include the Melrose Veterans Memory Project created and managed by Lisa Lord and the Melrose Veterans Relief Fund managed by Melrose Veteran Services and the Melrose Veterans Advisory Board.  Both will be highlighted during this year's Veterans Day events.

Those who wish to gain more information of who would like to participate in any of these great programs should contact Melrose Veteran Services at 781-979-4186 or at rmclane@cityofmelrose.org.  Please also look for updates on these events and more through our twitter feed at @melroseVSO.

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