Last modified: Monday, November 2, 2009 2:18 AM EST A crowd gathered at Barrows Park in downtown North Attleboro last Veterans Day for that park's rededication. This year's Veterans Day ceremony will be held at 11 a.m. Nov. 11, also in Barrows Park. (Staff photo by Tom Maguire) Time to pay tribute BY JANETTE BOULAY FOR THE SUN CHRONICLE Residents in communities across the country will turn out to celebrate Veterans Day on Wednesday, Nov. 11, but not enough of them, according to Jack Authelet, Foxboro's town historian. Authelet, who is also a veteran of the Korean War, will be presenting a program on Veterans Day entitled "Foxboro and Its Veterans" during the annual breakfast for veterans at the Foxboro Council on Aging. Speaking for those who believe strongly in the importance of continuing to celebrate all veterans on Nov. 11 each year, Authelet would like to remind everyone that for each day they live in freedom, they owe a debt of gratitude to a veteran, and he encourages everyone to make a special effort to stand tall beside our veterans, especially on Veterans Day. "Each and every day, lives are lost in a cause our nation believes to be just, and our brave men and women around the world - those still on duty and the millions of others who have served - are a symbol of freedom to threatened people everywhere," Authelet said. "We can never forget what they have done for us, our nation and the world. Never did they stand as brave as when they had so much to fear. Never did they give so freely as when they had so much to lose. We must give them nothing less than our total respect and gratitude" he said. In The Sun Chronicle area, those who wish to show their support of Veterans Day have the following options to do so: Attleboro CEREMONY - At 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 11, the City of Attleboro will hold a brief Veterans Day ceremony on the Veterans Common in the downtown area, led by Phillip Audette, commander of the Attleboro Veterans War Council. To make the ceremony as meaningful as possible, Audette urges all veterans and veteran supporters to join members of the city's Veterans War Council at the VFW-American Legion Post on Park Street at 10 a.m. to walk as a group to the Veterans Common. The ceremony will include a beginning prayer, speeches, a rifle salute, the playing of Taps, and a moment of silence at 11 a.m. Following the ceremony, participants will be invited back to the VFW-American Legion Post for a collation. BREAKFAST - From 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 6, the Attleboro Council on Aging will host its annual veterans breakfast at the Attleboro Elks Lodge at 887 South Main St. The event, which has been sold out, is open each year to all Attleboro veterans age 60 and older, and usually features a program during the breakfast. This year's program will be "Lincoln at Gettysburg" presented, as was last year's program, by Stonehill College Professor Gary Hylander. South Attleboro CEREMONY - At 11 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11, American Legion Post 312 will sponsor a rededication of Veterans Memorial Park, located at Lees Pond. The rededication will take place, thanks to the city, say organizers, with the unveiling of a new memorial stone and plaque. The original dedication of the South Attleboro Veterans Memorial Park took place on Sept. 10, 1954. The guest speaker will be Paul Spera, Past National Commander of the VFW. Following the ceremony, a collation will be held at American Legion Post 312 on Newport Avenue, with all invited to attend. Foxboro PROGRAM - At 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11, members of American Legion Post 93 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2626 invite all veterans and their families to join them for brief program, which will include presentations and refreshments, at the Lawrence W. Foster Post 93 American Legion Hall on Mechanic Street. Special recognition will be given during the program to two individuals, the names of which will not be revealed until the ceremony, who performed extraordinary service during World War II, but whose branch of the service was not afforded veteran's status. The event is open to the public and also will feature a patriotic medley by the Serenading Seniors and a presentation on "Foxboro and Its Veterans" by Town Historian Jack Authelet. The program also will include speeches by Foxboro High School students and the participation of local Scouts. Mansfield PARADE - At 10 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11, the Mansfield Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3264 invites residents to show their patriotic colors and march in the annual Veterans Day parade. Led by Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3264, the parade will step off from Memorial Park on Hope Street and proceed in a circular route along North Main Street to the North Common and South Common for ceremonies at war memorials and then back to the Memorial Park. The parade will feature the Mansfield High School Marching Band, local and state officials, civic groups and Scout troops. In case of inclement weather, ceremonies will be held in the Mansfield High School gymnasium. An open house will follow immediately at Phillips-Welch Post 3264 at 88 Chilson Avenue for all veterans and their families, as well as the public, with free food and refreshments. North Attleboro CEREMONY - At 11 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11, the North Attleboro Veterans Services Department will conduct its traditional Veterans Day Ceremony at Barrows Park, intended to pay tribute to all veterans and also serve as a visible source of support to all U.S. troops currently in the field. State Sen. Scott Brown, R-Wrentham, state Rep. Betty Poirier, R-North Attleboro, Bristol County Sheriff Tom Hodgkins and Chairman of Selectmen Paul Belham are among the invited guests expected to be on hand to assist with the ceremony. Norton PARADE - At 10 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11, The Norton Veterans Council invites residents to participate in its observance of Veterans Day, which begins, weather permitting, with a parade scheduled to step off from the Yelle Elementary School. The parade will feature formations and brief ceremonies along the route directed by American Legion Post 222. The parade route will travel east on Main Street to the Triangle at the corner of Main and Pine streets for a brief ceremony, including prayers, a gun salute and the playing of Taps. Following the ceremony, the parade will reform and proceed west on Main Street to Fillmore-Nason Square (the town common) for another ceremony. This ceremony will include the offering of prayers, speeches by invited guests, a gun salute by the 20th Regiment Massachusetts Company D Civil War Re-enactors, followed by the playing of Taps and a musical offering by the Norton High School Band. Following the ceremony, refreshments will be served at both American Legion Post 222 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8049. Plainville BREAKFAST - At 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11, the town's annual veterans breakfast will be held at the Council on Aging. Entertainment will also be provided at 9 a.m. by Jack Craig, who will present "A Tribute to Veterans in Music and Words." The event is open to all Plainville veterans who may bring a guest. Out-of-town veterans will be put on a waiting list. Veterans are welcomed to bring memorabilia to be displayed, including a photograph of themselves to be included on the Veterans Wall of Fame. The breakfast is free, but reservations need to be made by Monday, Nov. 9, by calling 508-699-7384. Rehoboth PASTA NIGHT - At 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14, the Sons of the American Legion will hold its 11th annual Veterans Day Pasta Night at the post. Tickets are $8 for adults and $4 for children under 11. For more information, call the post at 508-252-9079. CELEBRATION - At 11 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11, all residents are invited to participate in the Veterans Day celebration, which begins with a flag ceremony conducted by American Legion Post 302 at the flagpole, located at the corners of Danforth Street, Bay Road and Route 44. LUNCHEON - At noon on Wednesday, Nov. 11, the Rehoboth Triad will sponsor a free luncheon for all veterans in the town of Rehoboth at the Council on Aging on Bay State Road. Reservations are required and can be made by calling 508-252-3372. Wrentham CEREMONY - At 11 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11, members of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9658 and American Legion Post 225 invite and encourage residents to show support for all veterans by attending a brief ceremony at the World War II and Korea/Vietnam monuments on the town common. Janette Boulay can be reached by phone or fax at 508-222-0993 or by e-mail at janette.boulay@gmail.com.