AS TIME GOES ON, UNFORTUNATELY, THERE WILL BE CAUSE TO ADD NAMES OF PARTICIPANTS TO THIS PIECE OF HANCOCK GRANITE FROM CURRENT AND FUTURE CONFLICTS. THERE IS SPACE TO DO SO BY ADDING MORE BRONZE PLAQUES. THE UNBROKEN CHAIN OF RECOGNITION WILL SERVE TO REMIND US THAT IT IS ALWAYS THE COMMON, EVERYDAY FAMILY, FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS WHO ARE CALLED UPON TO DO THE UNCOMMON, WHO ARE CALLED ON TO SOLVE THE GROSS FAILURES OF WORLD LEADERS. WE SHOULD REMEMBER THIS WHEN WE CHOOSE OUR NATIONAL LEADERS.

BEFORE GETTING ON WITH THE BUSINESS OF THE DAY I WANT TO PAUSE TO RECOGNIZE SOME PEOPLE. FIRST OF ALL, WOULD ALL VETERANS PRESENT PLEASE STAND UP AND BE RECOGNIZED. WE THANK YOU AND HONOR YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO YOUR COUNTRY.

 

AS HAS BEEN THE CASE FOR MANY YEARS, IT WOULD NOT BE OLD HOME DAY WITHOUT THE TEMPLE BAND. THEY GRACIOUSLY AGREED TO PROVIDE THE ALL-IMPORTANT MARSHALL MUSIC FOR THIS EVENT. WE ARE TRULY GRATEFUL FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION.

WE ARE PARTICULARLY PRIVILEGED TO HAVE AS THE COLOR GUARD MEN FROM HANCOCK'S OWN IRREGULARS. THEY ARE A DETACHMENT FROM THE IRREGULARS WHO MARCH IN EVERY OLD HOME DAY PARADE. THANK YOU GEORGE BYAM, DOC BENOIT, EDWARD LAPINE, AND BOB SCHMITT.

REVEREND CREBBIN, WE THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THE PROPER SENSE OF SOLEMNITY TO THESE PROCEEDINGS.

WE THANK JOHN KAUFHOLD OF PETERBOROUGH MARBLE AND GRANITE WORKS, TOM KEENAN, OUR HERCULES WHO MOVED THE BOULDER INTO PLACE, AND KURT GRASSET AND HIS HIGHWAY CREW. WITHOUT THEM WE WOULDN'T HAVE A MONUMENT TO DEDICATE.

AND FINALLY, WE THANK SANDY WESTON FOR PROVIDING THE UNIQUE COVER FOR THE MONUMENT.