State House honors veterans who ‘didn’t hesitate to answer’ call of duty
Retired U.S. Army First Sergeant Gumersindo Gomez’s voice rang loud during a Veteran’s Day ceremony at the State House, echoing the day’s message of recognizing the immense sacrifice veterans have made for the country.
“This is an honor we carry for life because we felt the call of duty and didn’t hesitate to answer,” Gomez said. “Here I am, send me!”
Gov. Charlie Baker, Sen. Ed Markey, Attorney General Maura Healey and other public officials were on hand for the ceremony in Memorial Hall hosted by Francisco Urena, the state’s Veterans Affairs secretary.
Baker, who was met with a standing ovation from the crowd of veterans in military garb, Gold Star mothers and others, tried to quiet his warm welcome.
“I’m the one that should be standing and clapping for you,” he said before opening his speech.
Baker talked about watching the 2018 film “They Shall Not Grow Old,” a documentary by director Peter Jackson restoring original footage of soldiers from World War I, and how it reminded him of the painful sacrifices veterans have made for our freedom.
“We collectively as a country need to be reminded as often as possible about what exactly those men and women who served put out there for us,” Baker said. “The challenges they face, the sacrifices they make, the grit.”
The 215th Army Band of the Massachusetts National Guard opened the ceremony with the National Anthem, and a 21-gun salute outside of the building echoed through the chamber before the playing of Taps.
Ret. U.S. Navy Vietnam veteran and former prisoner of war Timothy Sullivan lit a candle on a small round table symbolizing POWs and those missing in action, with items including a wine glass turned upside down as a reminder that the missing veteran cannot join the occasion.
Gomez, a Vietnam veteran who has opened homes for homeless veterans in Springfield over his long post-military service career of advocacy, emphasized the message of the significant sacrifice millions have made when joining the military.
“Whether you’re active duty, discharged, retired National Guard or Reserves,” Gomez said, “at one point in your life, you wrote a blank check, made payable to the United States of America, for an amount of up to, including, his life, her life.”
from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/2qIFF9s
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