Vietnam War focus of museum's Veterans Day ceremony

WOONSOCKET - A Veterans Day ceremony sponsored by the Museum of Work & Culture will be held Wednesday, Nov. 11, starting at 10 a.m. outside the museum, 42 So. Main St.

The program will be dedicated to the late Jacques Staelen, who was the driving force behind the museum's Merci Boxcar exhibit, and served as chairman of the Veterans Day ceremony of the past.

This year's ceremony theme is the Vietnam War. The names of all city residents who lost their lives in the conflict will be read and a moment of silence observed in their memory. Two local veterans will speak about their experiences in the war.

Local Vietnam veterans who would like to participate in the ceremony should call the museum at 769-9675.

Also, Boy Scouts from Troop 2 Woonsocket will perform the flag-raising ceremony, and a flag-folding exhibit will be narrated by radio host Dave Richards. Members of the Junior ROTC will fold the flag during his narration, and read essays about the Vietnam War.

Roger Bouchard of WNRI radio will read the lyrics to "Taps," and trumpeters from Mount St. Charles Academy will play the song.

Several re-enactors will also be present, including Thomas Sanzi of the Gloucester Light Infantry. Keith Ezovski of Lincoln will provide the traditional cannon blast to open and close the ceremony.

Local performers Charles Deslauniers and Jean O'Donnell will be guest soloists.

The United Veterans Council has been invited to the event, and veterans of all military branches are invited to participate.

Refreshments will be served.