By Paul Menke
Every year, Veterans Day weekend is celebrated at Mashpee High Middle School and across the country. Most people see this great holiday as a day to remember and thank veterans that served our country, but what does Veterans Day really mean to Mashpee’s veterans?
Ms. Purdy, who served in the U.S. Air Force, gave insight on her time in the military. “Being a part of a team, and watching the ships in a V6 formation take off, not to do harm, but to send a message to Saddam Hussein that you cannot get away with this, was so remarkable for me...It was a symbol of our combined interests to do the right thing.”
Every year, Veterans Day weekend is celebrated at Mashpee High Middle School and across the country. Most people see this great holiday as a day to remember and thank veterans that served our country, but what does Veterans Day really mean to Mashpee’s veterans?
Ms. Purdy, who served in the U.S. Air Force, gave insight on her time in the military. “Being a part of a team, and watching the ships in a V6 formation take off, not to do harm, but to send a message to Saddam Hussein that you cannot get away with this, was so remarkable for me...It was a symbol of our combined interests to do the right thing.”
For Ms. Purdy, Veterans Day symbolizes not just honoring our veterans, but being thankful to live in the United States. “When people ask what it (Veterans Day) is to me, it’s not just about honoring sacrifices and service, it is a day to be thankful for their commitment to upholding our values as a nation.” For a touching documentary about veterans, she recommends “Travis: A Soldier’s Story”
Mr. Chicoine, a U.S. Army veteran, is thankful for Veterans Day being a national holiday. “I do like that veterans are recognized; not too long ago, it wasn’t like that. It’s funny, because I had a tough time in an airport one time just saying 'thank you for your service to another veteran.' I don’t know why, it kind of weirded me out. So I made it a point one day to say, 'Thank you for your service,' to any veteran I see. Once you get the hang of it, it is easy."
Mr. Chicione said Veterans Day is an occasion to think about the friends he had while in the military. "It’s also nice to have something like Veterans Day because people mostly would forget about thanking veterans otherwise, unless they have military in the family,” he said.
He also appreciated the direction and discipline that the military brought to his life. “Most days you had a clear sense of purpose. You knew what you were going to do for training or for maintenance, and I’ve always been a team guy, and the military is the ultimate team because everyone has to work together. If something falls apart, then the whole thing falls apart,” he said.
Mr. Leader served 22 years in the Navy and uses Veterans Day as a day of reflection. “I think it’s just a chance to reflect on what your service was and some of the sacrifices you made, but more importantly what other people are making right now. There are people out there every day, seven days a week doing their jobs, being away from their families, and doing what America asks them to do, even though a lot of times America is not thinking about them too much. It’s nice every year to have a Veterans Day where we tend to think about it more, but it’s just important to recognize that people are out there every day.”
Mr. Leader also has comments on what Mashpee can do more to recognize and thank veterans. “There are a lot of different things that go on throughout the year; I think the biggest thing maybe would be to get something going on more of a regular basis. We do things for things like ‘oh at Halloween we’re going to collect candy’ or ‘on Veterans Day we’re going to send letters and then the rest of the year we’re not gonna really think about.’ I think it’s always nice for people to feel appreciated all the time and not just when someone’s telling you to appreciate them. I think there a lot of programs out there in the community and through the school helping people. I’m glad they still have an assembly, at least at Quashnet; we used to have one here that went by the wayside a few years ago. It was a nice thing to get all the veterans from the community and get together as a school and remember it, so that’s something I think we could consider again and bring back. It was a good event.”
Veterans Day is a solemn day for Mr. Smith, who was an intelligence specialist in the U.S. Navy. “I think about my family members who have served; almost every male in my family… I think of Paul Conlon and Dan McGuire whom I had had as students and we lost. I don’t usually go to many of the ceremonies though; I used to, but not anymore. I usually go to Otis (the previous name of Joint Base Cape Cod) where my dad is buried the day before Veterans Day. Not only do I stop at his grave, but I go over to Danny and Paul’s grave. Then on Veterans Day, my brothers and I contact each other, and we usually have a few chuckles and remember Dad and my grandfather.”