Marion honors veterans' sacrifice



Marion paid tribute to military veterans on Nov. 11 during the town's annual ceremony held at Old Landing Memorial Park on Front Street.
Members of the Benjamin D. Cushing Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2425 organized the event with help from the Marion Police Department, the Washburn family and local Scout troops. The Sippican School band played music.
Joe Napoli, of the post, served as the master of ceremonies and the morning's keynote speaker.
He called on the audience to honor all who served.
"There is a misunderstanding, or a misconception, or a myth, that only those who served in combat theater are really veterans," he said. "Nothing could be further from the truth." Napoli noted that veterans who weren't deployed served their country just as well as those who fought.
Napoli also thanked the families of veterans for "carrying the burden" of their loved ones service.
Other speakers included Rev. Jeffrey Piper, of St. Gabriel's Church, and Selectmen Chair Jody Dickerson. Members of the town's Boy and Girl Scout troops recited the Scout creed and led the crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance.