Agawam reflects on service and sacrifice on Veterans Day

And over in Agawam, officials and residents headed to the Veterans Memorial Cemetery for their annual ceremony. 22 News reporter Aretha Odaya joins us live in studio with how they are remembering veterans. The Agawam community coming together to reflect this Veterans Day on the sacrifices and accomplishments of all those who have served. There was the Pledge of Allegiance, invocation, proclamations and addresses from several elected officials. It was a time of recognizing the extraordinary responsibility of veterans while thinking about the 108th anniversary of the 1918 armistice, which ended the fighting of World War I. We spoke with Senator John Velas, who is the chair of the Veterans and Federal Affairs Joint Committee, as well as a veteran himself. about what this day means to him. It means a lot. I mean, last year at this time I was deployed with the Army. I think everything that we take for granted in this nation, if I'm being very honest, is attributable to the service of our veterans. Less than one-half of one percent of this country serves. Every time I go on a deployment, I come back with the resounding mindset that America is the greatest country on earth. Agawam Mayor Chris Johnson joined in on the celebration along with Springfield's mayor. There was also an address by Master Sergeant Ashley Labrie of the 439th Airlift Wing at Westover Air Reserve Base in Chicopee. Also during the ceremony, a reminder of the missing person table symbolizing fallen and missing in action service members so they are never forgotten. Working for you, Aretha Odaya, 22 News.