From the Nashua Telegraph, Sat, Nov 11, 1967, page 1.
"Veterans Day observances focus on the servicemen in Vietnam as the nation pays tribute with parades and speeches today to the men and women who have served in her armed forces.
In Nashua, thousands turned out to witness a seven-division parade, despite the near-freezing temperatures. The mercury hovered at 40 degrees at mid-morning.
Moves Swiftly
The parade moved smoothly from main and Lake Streets to City Hall area for a minute of silence broken only by the wistful sounding of "Taps."
Reviewing the march were Mayor Dennis J. Sullivan, other city officials and Gold Star Mothers.
Leading the parade as chief marshal was Joseph F. Bourbeau, a World War II Navy veteran. The chief of staff was Maurice Litalien and the liaison officer was Roland Caron.
In an address climaxing Veterans Day at Deschenes Oval, Specialist Five Charles K. Griffin urged "unflinching support" of the fighting men in Vietnam. A Vietnam veteran and the winner of the Bronze Star Medal and the Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Griffin said: "There are no greater ways of honoring these men than by your giving them the unflinching support that they deserve--by your giving them respect for the tasks which they perform--and by your thanks for what they have done.
"In the words of our late President, John F. Kennedy, 'Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.' If we were to follow this ideal and believe in it, then the battles and the blood, and the lives that have been lost, will not have been in vain. And your veterans will have been honored in the finest manner."
Formerly of Mont Vernon, Griffin rapped the peaceniks saying: "If we were to forget that freedom was won for us with guns, not by people shouting to love each other and throwing flowers--if we were to forget that freedom is kept by a healthy and determined society and not by a pagan demonstration of persons burning their draft cards and not washing or shaving, then we will no longer be free.
"For flowers and dirty sweatshirts will not stop the Hitlers, the Mussolinis, the Stalins and the Castros of the world. It is our strength and our guns; it is our courage and determination, that have kept us free. It is the armies of men that have gone into battle that have kept us free."
"The price of freedom is blood. The blood that is shed on the battlefields. The price of freedom is sacrifices. The sarcrifices are the sweat, the tears, the raw nerves, and the time in our lives away from our loved ones for those who have gone and returned. The price of freedom is the ultimate sacrifice. The ultimate sacrifice is more than sweat, it is more than blood, it is all a man can give -- his life."
Bands Featured
Seven musical organizations echoed with martial music, led by the 60-man U.S. Army Band from Fort Devens, Mass. Along with the band, the Tall Men's chorus and the Heritage Platoon marched along.
Other bands included the Nashua High school band; the James E. Coffey Post, American Legion band; the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 483 band; the Spring Street Junior High school band; the Fairgrounds Junior High school band and the Elks Trojans Drum and Bugle Corps.
Reviewing the parade at the Main Street bridge was the general staff, including Chief Marshal Bourbeau, Chief of Staff Litalien, former Governor Hugh Gregg; Alderman-at-Large John V. Chesson, Major Lake Munday, Robert Paine, Major George Lyons, Warrant Officer Constantine Caros, U.S. Marshal Paul April, Sgt. First Class Roman Waek, Lt. Col. Carl Amelio, Commander Donald Alexander, Lt. Col. Frank Belitsky, Col. Louis Dean, Major Hector Senecal, Winford Labombarde and George M. Papadopoulos, Civil Defense director.
And then the city paid homage to its war dead in solemn ceremonies at Deschenes Oval. After assemby and the posting of colors, the program was opened by president of the day, Adrien Labrie, commander of C.W.V. Post 1700.
Musical selections were played by the American Legion and V.F.W. bands after the invocation by the Rev. Clarence Cain of St, Christopher's church.
After the address by Spec. 5 Griffin, the Hudson Post 48, American Legion firing squad reverberated a volley followed by "Taps." Benediction was offered by the Rev. George D. Tsoukalas of the Church of the Annunciation. The U.S. Army Band then played the National Anthem after the raising of the flag.
https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=w64rAAAAIBAJ&sjid=m_0FAAAAIBAJ&pg=...
