by Daily Hampshire Gazette
South Hadley - "Remember all veterans, past, present, and future," urged James Stathis, 75, this year's recipient of South Hadley's veteran of the year award.
Stathis - a former U.S. Army corporal and retired U.S. postal worker - received the award Wednesday during South Hadley's Veterans Day ceremony. Stathis spoke briefly to a large gathering of scouts, students and community members beside the Veterans Monument outside Town Hall.
South Hadley Selectboard member Marilyn Ishler presented the veteran of the year award to Stathis.
"Today we honor all veterans," she said in a short speech. "But we should thank them every day. We would not have the freedom, the rights, the privileges we have without them."
Prior to the ceremony honoring all veterans, students from the South Hadley Middle School band performed in front of a packed Town Hall auditorium. Band director Brooks Holmes led the students through an assortment of songs, including "The Star Spangled Banner," "You're a Grand Old Flag" and "North Ridge Overture." Opus Four, the middle school's chorus led by Patricia Murawski, also performed at the concert.
Resident John O'Connor acted as master of ceremonies for the main event outside Town Hall. He introduced Selectboard member Bob Judge, who read "A Veteran's Poem" by Holly Rulli.
A group of students from Stephanie Holmes' middle school class described a recent trip to Washington, D.C. Students read prepared statements about their trip that included visits to various museums and the Capital Building.
During a visit to the Vietnam Memorial in the nation's capital, the students found eight names of servicemen from South Hadley who lost their lives in Vietnam.
They presented rubbings of these names to Commander Bill Hubbard of the American Legion Post 260 and Commander Anthony Brin of the VFW Post 3104.
Stathis - a former U.S. Army corporal and retired U.S. postal worker - received the award Wednesday during South Hadley's Veterans Day ceremony. Stathis spoke briefly to a large gathering of scouts, students and community members beside the Veterans Monument outside Town Hall.
South Hadley Selectboard member Marilyn Ishler presented the veteran of the year award to Stathis.
"Today we honor all veterans," she said in a short speech. "But we should thank them every day. We would not have the freedom, the rights, the privileges we have without them."
Prior to the ceremony honoring all veterans, students from the South Hadley Middle School band performed in front of a packed Town Hall auditorium. Band director Brooks Holmes led the students through an assortment of songs, including "The Star Spangled Banner," "You're a Grand Old Flag" and "North Ridge Overture." Opus Four, the middle school's chorus led by Patricia Murawski, also performed at the concert.
Resident John O'Connor acted as master of ceremonies for the main event outside Town Hall. He introduced Selectboard member Bob Judge, who read "A Veteran's Poem" by Holly Rulli.
A group of students from Stephanie Holmes' middle school class described a recent trip to Washington, D.C. Students read prepared statements about their trip that included visits to various museums and the Capital Building.
During a visit to the Vietnam Memorial in the nation's capital, the students found eight names of servicemen from South Hadley who lost their lives in Vietnam.
They presented rubbings of these names to Commander Bill Hubbard of the American Legion Post 260 and Commander Anthony Brin of the VFW Post 3104.
