Members of the military and veterans place wreaths at each statue, signifying different wars throughout American history.
Reminder Publishing photos by Tyler Garnet
CHICOPEE — City leaders and the veteran community honored Veterans Day with annual ceremonies on Nov. 11.
A memorial service at 10 a.m. at Saint Stanislaus school was followed by a wreath-laying ceremony at 11 a.m. at the Veterans Memorial Plaza.
U.S. Rep. Richard Neal joined Chicopee Mayor John Vieau, Chicopee Department of Veterans Services Director Stephanie Shaw and other state and local officials.
For the ceremony, members of the military and veterans placed wreaths at each statue, signifying different wars throughout American history. The Veterans Memorial Plaza includes statues for each American war, including the Civil War. Each statue annotates the number of Chicopee residents lost in the wars.
“As long as I can remember this city has paid great honor and tribute to its veterans,” Neal stated. “Patriotism runs deep in the city of Chicopee, and the people of Chicopee have honored the sacrifice of those who have come before us.”
Neal also acknowledged the upcoming 250th birthday for the United States of America.
U.S. Rep. Richard Neal talks to the veterans and crowd during Chicopee’s Veterans Day wreath laying ceremony 
Veterans, members of the military and ROTC members salute and place wreaths at each statue to signify different wars throughout American history. 
Veterans, members of the military and ROTC members salute and place wreaths at each statue to signify different wars throughout American history. 
Veterans, members of the military and ROTC members salute and place wreaths at each statue to signify different wars throughout American history.
He said, “I hope we’re also reminded that, that idea and the power of that idea 250 years ago in Concord and Lexington will be acknowledged throughout the coming year. That experiment is still worth fighting for. That experiment and representative democracy is still part of the American lore.”
Immediately following the wreath laying ceremony, a veterans luncheon took place at the Knights of Columbus, where several awards were administered, including the Charles H Tracy Award to LTC (ret.) U.S. Army Veteran John Moran, Patriotic Business of the Year to Knight of Columbus Elder Council No. 69 & Home Association, and Patriotic Organization of the Year to Scouting America Troop 1849.
The Charles H. Tracy Award is awarded to a veteran who has gone above and beyond for their volunteerism to the veteran community. It is named after Sgt. Charles H. Tracy, a Civil War soldier who was awarded the Medal of Honor for two acts of bravery.
Vieau talked about the city’s commitment to its veterans.
“I always like to say that I get that honor and privilege to bring the greetings in the city of Chicopee and it’s very special to be on Veterans Day. To the veterans that are here, and all those who serve, thank you so much for you service,” Vieau said.
There are also over 11,000 Chicopee veterans that have passed on, with approximately 2,500 buried outside the city of Chicopee and 850 that rest in different locations overseas.
There are also nearly 4,000 veterans that call Chicopee their home.
“The men and women we honor today were ordinary people until they heard that call of duty,” Vieau said. “They left their families, their homes and the comfort of their daily lives, not for recognition or fame but to protect our country and our way of life. Here in Chicopee, we do not take our veterans for granted. We are and always will be, a veteran proud city. We just want you to know, we don’t support you only on Veterans Day, we do that every single day.”
State Sen. Jake Oliveira attended multiple Veterans Day ceremonies in Western Massachusetts to honor those who have served and tell people about the work he and the state are doing to help.
“To our veterans, the reason why we’re all here today, the freedoms that we all enjoy in this nation were paved by those who took arms to defend our nation. I am just so grateful to represent this community, a community that always honors veterans,” Oliveira said. “I just want to thank you on behalf of the commonwealth of Massachusetts and tell you as a member of this Chicopee delegation, Massachusetts makes strides to be the best state in the country for veterans.”
Oliveira said they are working on a new soldier’s home “to make sure veterans and their family members have a place to retire and live out their remaining days with dignity.”
The ceremony included a POW/MIA ceremony, musical performances and lunch.
