Lakeville and Middleboro honor hometown heroes at Veterans Day celebrations
Members of the Middleboro Fire Department walk during the Veterans Day parade Tuesday, Nov. 11. Photo by Grace Roche
Veterans and active duty service members — one with his son — walk in the Middleboro parade. Photo by Grace Roche
A Marine Corps veteran drives through Middleboro as part of the parade. Photo by Grace Roche
A dog wearing a Masonic emblem walks in the Middleboro parade. Photo by Grace Roche
The Middleboro Cub Scout troop walks through downtown Middleboro. Photo by Grace Roche
Middleboro Girl Scouts hold their sign during the parade. Photo by Grace Roche
The John T. Nichols Middle School marching band walks past the Middleboro Town Hall. Photo by Grace Roche
State Rep. Norman Orrall presents a citation to Mary Standish. Photo by Grace Roche
John Crutchfield addresses the audience. Photo by Grace Roche
Bud Morton, a Lakeville resident and Army veteran, lays a wreath on the Hitchcock Memorial at Assawompset Elementary School. Photo by Sam Tucker
Attendees look on while members of the Historical Society share Lakeville’s veteran history. Photo by Sam Tucker
Norman Orrall speaks at the first pitstop during the Lakeville veteran’s day events. Photo by Sam Tucker
American flags flutter in the wind in front of the Assawompset Elementary School. Photo by Sam Tucker
The crowd listens to speakers at the Historic Town Hall in Lakeville. Photo by Sam Tucker
The crowd listens to speakers at the Historic Town Hall in Lakeville. Photo by Sam Tucker
Cub Scouts pose at the ceremony. Photo by Sam Tucker
The Lakeville Honor Roll memorial, which highlights Lakeville veterans. Photo by Sam Tucker
A Cub Scout walks a wreath to the Honor Roll memorial. Photo by Sam Tucker
Maureen Candito and Christopher Plonka speak on the sacrifices of veterans. Photo by Sam Tucker
Veteran members of the crowd pose together during the ceremony. Photo by Sam Tucker
From left: Andrew Sukeforth, Christopher Plonka and Maureen Candito pose next to the new veterans parking signs that will soon be across different parking lots in Lakeville. Photo by Sam Tucker
Members of the Middleboro Fire Department walk during the Veterans Day parade Tuesday, Nov. 11. Photo by Grace Roche
Veterans and active duty service members — one with his son — walk in the Middleboro parade. Photo by Grace Roche
A Marine Corps veteran drives through Middleboro as part of the parade. Photo by Grace Roche
A dog wearing a Masonic emblem walks in the Middleboro parade. Photo by Grace Roche
The Middleboro Cub Scout troop walks through downtown Middleboro. Photo by Grace Roche
Middleboro Girl Scouts hold their sign during the parade. Photo by Grace Roche
The John T. Nichols Middle School marching band walks past the Middleboro Town Hall. Photo by Grace Roche
State Rep. Norman Orrall presents a citation to Mary Standish. Photo by Grace Roche
John Crutchfield addresses the audience. Photo by Grace Roche
Bud Morton, a Lakeville resident and Army veteran, lays a wreath on the Hitchcock Memorial at Assawompset Elementary School. Photo by Sam Tucker
Attendees look on while members of the Historical Society share Lakeville’s veteran history. Photo by Sam Tucker
Norman Orrall speaks at the first pitstop during the Lakeville veteran’s day events. Photo by Sam Tucker
American flags flutter in the wind in front of the Assawompset Elementary School. Photo by Sam Tucker
The crowd listens to speakers at the Historic Town Hall in Lakeville. Photo by Sam Tucker
The crowd listens to speakers at the Historic Town Hall in Lakeville. Photo by Sam Tucker
Cub Scouts pose at the ceremony. Photo by Sam Tucker
The Lakeville Honor Roll memorial, which highlights Lakeville veterans. Photo by Sam Tucker
A Cub Scout walks a wreath to the Honor Roll memorial. Photo by Sam Tucker
Maureen Candito and Christopher Plonka speak on the sacrifices of veterans. Photo by Sam Tucker
Veteran members of the crowd pose together during the ceremony. Photo by Sam Tucker
From left: Andrew Sukeforth, Christopher Plonka and Maureen Candito pose next to the new veterans parking signs that will soon be across different parking lots in Lakeville. Photo by Sam TuckerResidents across Middleboro and Lakeville spent Veterans Day celebrating and memorializing veterans from the two towns.
In Lakeville, town officials and residents visited Hitchcock Memorial at Assawompset Elementary School, the Flag Pole and Honor Roll at the Historic Town Hall and the WWI Memorial in Dickran Diran Square.
About 30 people gathered in Lakeville, including Cub Scouts Troop 14. As they moved through town, participants laid wreaths at each location.
During the observance, members of the Historical Society shared stories of the memorials and Lakeville veterans. State Rep. Norman Orrall and Lakeville town officials also spoke on the importance of Veteran’s Day and paying respect to the veterans who have served and made sacrifices.
Select Board member Christopher Plonka, an Air Force veteran, said the day was a time to honor and remember the sacrifices of veterans.
“It's important because we can't forget those who have served, those who paid the ultimate price —sacrificing their lives — for the freedom of the country.”
Select Board Chair Maureen Candito has several veterans in her family, including her ex-husband, father and uncles.
She said the day is important to her, and she is working to have the town honor veterans beyond Veterans Day, particularly with additional policies and the recent hire of a full time veterans agent.
“It's very personal to me,” Candito said. “Being able to have one day carved out to celebrate them just doesn't feel like enough. We're trying to actively celebrate them in other ways.”
Middleboro celebrated the day with a parade on the streets around Town Hall, followed by a ceremony honoring two resident veterans for their community contributions.
Along with veterans both on foot and in decorated cars, members of the John T. Nichols Middle School marching band, Cub and Girl Scout troops, and town officials walked through town.
Many parade participants and viewers then gathered in the Grand Ballroom for the ceremony.
Town Manager James McGrail and Select Board member Thomas White presented a citation of honor from the town to Mary Standish, the veteran of the year, and John Crutchfield's sign business — the veteran organization of the year. Orrall presented each with citations from the Massachusetts House and Senate.
Standish, an Air Force veteran, said she was inspired to enlist after hearing John F. Kennedy challenge Americans to “ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country”’ in his inaugural address.
For Standish, a responsibility to serve doesn’t end with discharge papers.
“When we receive that in our hand, our duty still hasn't stopped. We just do it for the community and we love where we live,” she said. “That's at least why I do it, because I love it.”
Crutchfield, a Coast Guard veteran, said he never expected his business would lead him to being honored by the town. A sign he made for the town over 20 years ago hung on the ballroom stage during the ceremony.
Crutchfield said the day was an important chance to remember everyone who has served in the military.
“Every veteran has paid something toward our freedom,” he said. “Some didn't serve on the front lines and they weren't in hazardous situations, but they were separated from family in places where they might prefer not to be. If you love your freedom, they're the people that gave it to you.”












