Veterans Day Essay Contest Winners

The following essays, written by Lexington students, were provided by the Public Celebrations and Ceremonies Committee.

This essay is by Sophia Zhu, a 13-year-old eighth-grader at Diamond Middle School.  Yes, there has been a veteran in my life, moreover I lived with that veteran. He was my grandpa, Su Qi Tao whom served in the Chinese Civil War.  For a short period of time, I lived with my grandparents in Hefei, China because my parents had to work in Shenzhen, China. This was well before I came to the United States, maybe around the age of five or six.  I recall him telling me stories about his veteran days while rocking me to sleep in his big, fat comfortable recliner. It smelled like him and his shampoo. Oh, the stories were fascinating and adventurous. Every time it would give me goose bumps.  Of course, I secretly knew that some parts of the story …

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'Today, It Is Our Privilege To Say Thank You'

Pictures and words from Lexington's annual Veterans Day observances.

With wreaths laid throughout Lexington Center, the parade wounds its way back to Cary Hall, where essays were read, flowers were handed out and service songs played. It was all part of Lexington’s annual Veterans Day observances, which as Suzie Barry from the Town Celebrations Committee put it, is the town’s way of showing appreciation for those who’ve paid the high cost of freedom. “Today, it is our privilege to say ‘Thank You,’” Barry said.   Click through the photos above and read the captions for more on the Veterans Day observances.

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Share Your Photos of Lexington Veterans

Upload images your loved ones in uniform to our online heroes gallery.

Veterans Day is this Sunday, Nov. 11. To honor local veterans, we invite you to share photos of Lexington servicemen and women so the whole city can honor those who serve our nation.  Just click the green "Submit Your Photos" button above the photos or at the bottom of this article to add yours, along with a caption. Also, leave shoutouts to veterans you know in the comments below.

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Local Deals Abound for Veterans Day

Local businesses salute our service men and women with special deals year-round ,as well as on Veterans Day.

  A number of local businesses are saluting veterans, military service men and women, and their families this Veterans Day by offering local discounts, specials and promotions. Here's a guide to specials around the Lexington area; some of these came from the website themilitarywallet.com. We will do our best to keep this page updated as we find new info, and you can add deals you know about to the comments section below. You can also check with themilitarywallet.com for their latest deals. Two important notes:   Free food: Store discounts: Free activities:

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Get Out

Fall Fairs, Concerts, Photography and a Flag Retirement Ceremony

A roundup of some of this weekend's activities around the Lexington area.

t’s Thursday, and you’ve got no idea what you’ll do this weekend. Lexington Patch is coming to the rescue. We’ve got the best bets for your done-work-outta-here time. Check our picks for the activities you'll want to take part in this weekend in Lexington and beyond. 1. Fall Fair – First Church Bedford Where/When: First Church of Christ Congregational, 25 Great Rd, Bedford; 6 to 9 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 9 and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 10 Why Go: This year’s Fall Fair will feature Christmas and holiday decorations in the Yuletide Treasures Room, as well as handcrafted items, baked goods, used books and toys and white elephants. Fairgoers can also enjoy a light dinner and desserts on Friday evening, and dessert & coffee Saturday. …

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Taking It Personally

Taking It Personally: On Veterans Day and World Citizenship

You don't have to be a candidate for Miss America to think about world peace

This past Friday was Veterans Day and, as I do every year, I was wearing three hats—as a member of the Board of Selectmen, as a veteran and as the Scoutmaster of a Lexington Boy Scout troop. After the ceremonies, there was the inevitable question from a reporter which sought to tie all of that together, especially the Boy Scouts and military parts. It was a good question, because it gave me a chance to talk about Robert Baden-Powell, who founded World Scouting more than one hundred years ago. He was a former British Army general who had seen his war and apparently did not like it -- even though he emerged a hero. At the first World Conclave of Scouting, Baden-Powell held aloft a “hatchet of war” and then buried it in a barrel of golden …

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PHOTOS: Lexington Honors Its Veterans on 11/11/11

Veterans Day ceremonies moved inside after forecasts called for morning rain, but Cary Hall was filled with local veterans and residents ready to honor them with roses, cards and essays.

Lexington High School's band filled the Cary Hall stage Friday morning, their tri-corn hats a nod to this town's colonist forefathers and their songs a tribute to the veterans for all they've done to protect that which was started here. Though the threat of rain washed out plans for a Veterans Day parade and swept the ceremonies down Mass Ave from the Battle Green to Cary Hall, most invovled felt the Nov. 11 ceremonies were a fitting tribute to the assembled veterans for their service and sacrifices for America and the greater good. Town Celebrations Committee Chairwoman Suzie Barry delivered the welcome and introduction. The invocation came from Rabbi Howard Jaffe of Temple Isaiah. The Lexington Police Department's Honor Guard posted the …

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About Town

About Town: For Those Who Served

On Veterans Day at the local VFW, Edward Fitzgerald remembers -- and hopes we do too.

Edward  “Eddie” Fitzgerald eased his car  toward the Hayes Lane entrance of the VFW about 8:30 a.m., put his car in “park” and popped the trunk before opening the car door.   Eddie, the quartermaster of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3007, asked a few of his buddies to help unload edible provisions, packed neatly in the back. Trays, bowls and bags of assorted foods were hauled from the trunk and carried into the old hall. As the men stored the food, Eddie measured fresh coffee and poured it in anoversized coffeemaker.   As the water heated and began percolating, Eddie started talking about Veterans Day. “Veterans Day is a solemn day,” he said and looked around the room, which held plaques, pictures, banners and other momentos from past wars…

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