Mattapoisett residents celebrated the legacy of America's veterans with a full house at Old Hammondtown School on Monday.

The Veterans Day ceremony, sponsored by the Florence Eastman American Legion Post 280, featured patriotic music and songs by the Old Hammondtown concert band and chorus as well as words of thanks and remembrance from local and state officials.

Selectman Paul Silva took a look back at the history of celebrating veterans as well as the legacy veterans have left to the country.

"America became and remains a free nation because of our veterans," said Silva.

Representative William Straus also spoke and offered his thanks to veterans while looking to the future. He said, "We have to recognize that in wartime or peacetime, the need for armed forces will always be there."