HINGHAM -- Town Administrator Tom Mayo, The Town of Hingham’s Department of Veterans’ Services and the Hingham Veterans’ Council wish to invite members of the community to the annual Memorial Day observance.
WHEN:
Monday, May 29, at 11 a.m.
WHERE:
Town Hall, 210 Central St. Hingham
The event will take place outdoors at Hingham Town Hall. In the event of inclement weather, the entire ceremony will be conducted in the Sanborn Auditorium inside Town Hall.
WHO:
All are welcome to attend the event. Dignitaries from the Town of Hingham, Hingham’s Department of Veterans’ Services and the Hingham Veterans’ Council will be present.
The principal speaker for the ceremony will be former Secretary of Veterans Service, Cheryl Poppe, Ret. Colonel of the United States Army.
WHAT:
Colonel Poppe served for 30 years in the Massachusetts Army National Guard in several capacities before retiring as a Colonel. Her last assignment with the Guard was Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel.
Her passion for working with veterans led her to hold multiple positions at the Massachusetts Department of Veterans Services. She worked in collaboration with both the Chelsea and Holyoke Soldiers' Homes as Superintendent in Chelsea and Interim Director at Holyoke.
Most recently, she worked on efforts to develop a design for a new Community Living Center for the Soldiers' Home in Chelsea, which will provide 154 private rooms in a home-like environment. She was also a part of the design process for the new Soldiers' Home in Holyoke, which will be completed in 2027.
After the official remarks, the Town Clerk will read the names of those Hingham veterans who have passed since Memorial Day last year. A wreath will be placed in honor of all those who have made the ultimate sacrifice, as the Rifle Squad fires the volley and the bugler sounds TAPS.
At the conclusion of the ceremony, all veterans and their families are invited for a buffet-style luncheon at the Grand Army of the Republic Memorial Hall, 358 Main St. Hingham. The luncheon will be provided by Hart Catering of Rockland.
All student participants will be treated to ice cream on the lawn provided by the Veterans' Council.
All veterans and their families, the Hingham High School Band, and all senior citizens will be provided seating. Honor/Color Guards will be posted in the Veterans Monument, and the general public is invited as well. Seating will be limited, so residents are asked to bring their own chairs.
Col. Poppe's was appointed as Acting Secretary of the Department of Veteran's Services in 2020 and held the position until 2023. She currently serves in an advisory role to continue advocating for veterans and their families.