Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the traditional Town of Danvers Veterans Day Ceremony will not take place this year. However, there will be two events occurring to honor veterans. On Veterans Day, November 11th, at 9 AM, there will be a Rolling Caravan, followed by the main event, a Virtual Veterans Day Ceremony broadcast at 11 AM and later at 6 PM on Danvers Community Access Television – Channel 22 on Comcast and Channel 41 on Verizon. The program will also be broadcast on DCAT’s YouTube channel and Facebook page.
Kelley Rayos-Teixeira, the Town’s Veterans Services Officer, stated, “Veterans Day is a time for us to pay our respects to those who have served and are currently serving in the military. It is a special day when we all take pride in honoring our veterans.”
The Veterans Day Rolling Caravan, organized by the Danvers Police Department, will be a military-style procession of Military Vehicles, Police Cruisers, Fire Apparatus, and first responder vehicles. For more information and specific route directions, please see www.facebook.com/DanversPolice/ or www.danverspolice.com. The public is reminded to adhere to all mandated state guidelines on social distancing and wearing masks.
The virtual ceremony, organized by the Danvers Veterans Council and the town’s Veterans Services Department, will have Dick Moody, president of the Danvers Veterans Council and founder of Operation Troop Support, as Master of Ceremonies. Guest speaker will be Peter Mirandi, recently retired Director of Health and Veterans Affairs for the town, who will present “A Veteran’s Pandemic Story: Past and Present.” Other participants will include a Color Guard by Danvers Police Department, wreath placement by Danvers Girl and Boy Scouts, drum roll and TAPS by Danvers High School Band members, bagpipe music by Capt. Kenneth Reardon, Jr., of the Danvers Fire Department, and volley salute by the Danvers Alarm List Company.
Additionally this year, the ceremony will include a patriotic song by singer Annie Brobst, winner of the 2019 NE Music Awards Live Act of the Year; a story by Jeannine Nash, whose father and 5 brothers (members of the Soucy family of Danvers) all served in WW II or Korea; and a rolling photo presentation of Danvers veterans, both living and deceased, who have proudly served their nation throughout the years.
“This year in particular,” explained Dick Moody, “when the pandemic has reached the battlefield as well as the rest of the world, it is fitting that we all take the time to remember our veterans who have faced adversity, yesterday and today, and defend the principles of our country.”
The public is encouraged to come out to support and recognize our service members, but all social distancing guidelines must be followed. There will be no gathering or ceremony at Town Hall before or after the caravan.
- Residents are encouraged to watch from their property or utilize public parking lots and street parking along the route.
- Residents in public places, where social distancing is not possible, must follow the mandated state guidelines by wearing a mask or face covering.
Caravan Route:
- 9 a.m. Caravan will start on SYLVAN ST. Danvers Town Hall and make a right turn onto PARK ST.Left turn onto HIGH ST. passing the PORTER CEMETERY.Left turn onto LANE PARKWAYRight turn onto MAPLE ST. passing the Memorial Flag Pole in Danvers SquareLeft turn onto PICKERING ST.Right turn onto MAPLE ST.
- Right turn onto ELM ST. and concluding at town hall on HOLTEN ST.
- Left turn onto CHERRY ST. towards Maple St.
- Left turn onto HOBART ST.
- Left onto CONANT ST.
- Right turn onto PARK ST.
- Right turn onto GOULD ST.
