The above video is of the ceremony which took place on Veterans Day in 2019 at Pine Grove Cemetery in Barrington, New Hampshire. First Seacoast Bank and Nippo Lake Golf Club provided a free lunch for attendees at the American Legion Post 114 in Barrington.

Today, Americans respect and honor all veterans, whether they be active duty, reserves, retired, or deceased. We owe them a debt of gratitude for their service, which is duty bigger than oneself. Because they are brave, we are the home of the free, and the collective reputation provides reassurance that the protection of the United States will be eternal and that the greatness of our nation that we cherish each day will forever be preserved. The sacrifices that veterans make when they sign up to serve the military are notable – they give up the opportunity of having profitable careers in the private industry, often to face war in hostile places that could result in injury or death, all to serve and protect the U.S. Constitution.

Veterans give up blood and treasure to guard this nation, in order to ensure there is no end, and that we will never surrender our rights and our freedoms. We are indebted to their civility, their bravery, and their security – wherever they go, their reputation precedes them. Each veteran is distinct for their own courageous and heroic efforts to protect this great country. They are unafraid and unfearful of doing their job, which is probably the hardest thing they’ve ever done. It is important that we recognize them for their valor, and celebrate their glory each and every day. Each time you see a veteran, tell them, “Thank you for your service!”

Veterans Day, originally known as Armistice Day, is a day to celebrate veterans who have served in the Armed Forces, on the anniversary of the Armistice with Germany at the 11^th Hour, on the 11^th Day, of the 11^th Month, which marked the end of World War I in 1918. Veterans Day celebrates all veterans, not to be confused with Memorial Day, which honors those who have died while in military service. Armistice Day was renamed to Veterans Day in 1954.

It should also be noted that the U.S. Marine Corps celebrated its 244^th Birthday yesterday, November 10^th, 2019, the day before Veterans Day.

The American Legion placed 300 flags on the graves of veterans this year, with the help of Barrington Cub Scout Troop 358. There are about 120-250 cemeteries in Barrington that have veteran graves on private land. Esther Sawyer, President of the American Legion Auxiliary Unit at Post 114 said that if a veteran needs something, they take up the request. They recently donated books to the Barrington Library, after finding out that there was only one book about veterans there. One of the books was written by someone in Rochester, New Hampshire.

Spouses of veterans can now become members of the Auxiliary Unit, which has been around about as long as the American Legion Post 114. In June, there will be a picnic to help raise funds for veterans. The mission of the organization is to support veterans and their families. For veterans in the community, if they need something, they should contact the American Legion. The organization is comprised of more than 2.1 million wartime veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces. The Auxiliary Unit is comprised of 1 million members, the nation’s largest patriotic women’s association. And there are also 360,000 Sons of the American Legion, which are male descendants of U.S. wartime veterans.

There are more than 13,500 local posts worldwide. Members have served in Desert Storm/Desert Shield, Grenada, Panama, Lebanon, Vietnam, Korea, and World War II. Some of the services that the American Legion provides through its local post include:

• Representing at no cost veterans and their families seeking VA disability and medical benefits.
• Volunteerism at VA medical facilities.
• Providing financial assistance to needy military and veteran families with young children at home.
• Awarding college scholarships to children of U.S. servicemembers killed while on active duty since the terrorist attacks of 9/11/2001.
• Educating school children on such topics as flag respect, military service, history, and patriotism.
• Providing & distributing U.S. flags for the graves of American military personnel laid to rest at overseas cemeteries.
• Participating in patriotic observances and events around the world each year at the local, state, national, and international levels.
• Handling honor guard services and memorial tributes for fallen personnel and veterans, from individual funerals to memorial dedications.

For more information, please visit www.americanlegionpost114.com.