Veterans Day on Cape Cod: Where to find services to honor those who served

Frankie Rowley, Cape Cod Times
·3 min read

There are several Veterans Day events on Cape Cod Saturday.

Flags on the 78,000 graves at Massachusetts National Cemetery, placed by Operation Flags for Vets on Nov. 4, will remain display until Nov. 12.

Operation Flags for Vets began placing flags around the cemetery in 2011 after founder Paul Monti lost his son, Jared, who died in combat in Afghanistan in 2006. He received the Medal of Honor from President Obama for his service to his country in 2009.

On a visit to the cemetery on Veterans Day, Monti noticed a lack of flags on the graves and decided he wanted to do something about it. After four years of lobbying in Congress and working tirelessly, in 2011, he finally received permission to lay flags on the graves on Veterans Day and Memorial Day.

“In all honesty, this is what they fought for,” Patricia Monti, Paul’s sister, said in an interview with the Times. “They wear the American flag on their uniform for a reason and they deserve to be honored with a flag on their grave site.”

The American Legion Post 230 is hosting a Veterans Day Ceremony at 10:30 a.m. on Nov. 11 at the Bourne Veterans Memorial Community Center.

Falmouth

Falmouth’s annual Veterans Day ceremony is set to take place at 11 a.m. on Nov. 11 at Falmouth Public Library.

The procession to the library begins at 10:45 a.m., and will be followed by speeches, featuring keynote speaker Master Chief Jacob Linder of Air Station Cape Cod and Pastor Nell Fields from the Waquoit Congregational Church.

Following the event, the Falmouth Elks’ Lodge will host guests for refreshments and snacks, sponsored by the Joe Q Veteran Coffee Break.

The Falmouth Public Library is at 300 Main St.. The Falmouth Elks’ Lodge is at 140 Palmer Ave. The procession, speeches and social events are free to attend.

Hyannis

Five-year-old Haomhan Wing bows his head during the benediction wearing a military jumpsuit with his grandfather's ID patch on it on the Hyannis Town Green as part of the town's 2021 Veterans Day observance.
Five-year-old Haomhan Wing bows his head during the benediction wearing a military jumpsuit with his grandfather's ID patch on it on the Hyannis Town Green as part of the town's 2021 Veterans Day observance.

The Veteran’s Outreach Center of Cape Cod and the Islands is hosting its Veteran’s Day Ceremony and Veteran’s Town Hall from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on the Village Green and at Town Hall in Hyannis.

The ceremony begins on the green with the laying of wreaths and a speech from Barnstable Town Councillor and U.S. Army Ranger Paul Cusack. The ceremony will then move to Town Hall as veterans share their stories followed by brunch from the Hyannis Elks’ Lodge.

Bourne Veterans Memorial Community Center, shown last year, is located at 239 Main St.
Bourne Veterans Memorial Community Center, shown last year, is located at 239 Main St.

Provincetown

In Provincetown, two ceremonies will be held on Nov. 11 for Veterans Day. At 10 a.m. at MacMillan Pier, a wreath will be thrown into the water in honor of all those who served at sea along with a ceremonial volley by the Provincetown Police Department Honor Guard.

A memorial wreath was cast off MacMillan Pier in honor of those who served in the seagoing services during a Veterans Day Ceremony in 2021.
A memorial wreath was cast off MacMillan Pier in honor of those who served in the seagoing services during a Veterans Day Ceremony in 2021.

Following the wreath toss, the ceremonies continue at 11 a.m. at Doughboy Soldiers Monument at Provincetown Town Hall where all veterans will be honored. Members of the Provincetown Select Board will deliver remarks alongside performances of the National Anthem and "America the Beautiful" by Denise Russell, a ceremonial volley by the Provincetown Police Department Honor Guard and "Taps" by Michael Coelho.

Osterville

Osterville's 5th annual Veterans Day Walk will commence at 11 a.m. on Nov. 11 starting at the Calvin C. Gould Library on the Green.

Army veteran and local historian Paul Chesbro talks to the crowd outside the Veteran's Hall on the first stop of his walking tour during 2020's Veteran's Day activities in Osterville.
Army veteran and local historian Paul Chesbro talks to the crowd outside the Veteran's Hall on the first stop of his walking tour during 2020's Veteran's Day activities in Osterville.

Cyndy Cotton, executive director of the Osterville Public Library, and local author and historian, Paul Chesbro, will lead participants through the village's war and veteran monuments and their significance. The walk is free to attend and will last for about an hour so make sure to wear comfortable shoes and weather-appropriate attire.

Calvin C. Gould Park is located at the Osterville Village Library, 43 Wianno Ave in Osterville.

Mashpee

Mashpee’s Veterans Day Ceremony will take place at 10 a.m. on Nov. 11 at Mashpee Community Park and Veterans Garden.

Yarmouth

In Yarmouth, the Veteran's Day Service begins at 11 a.m. on Nov. 11 at Packet's Landing Veterans Memorial Park on Bass River and Route. 128.

Chatham

The town of Chatham's Veterans Day observance will take place at 11 a.m. on Nov. 11 at the World War I Memorial on Main Street.

This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Cape Cod Veterans Day services from Bourne to Provincetown