At the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 2011, Wareham came together to celebrate, honor, and thank the town's many veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces.

Veterans Day began with a parade from Besse Park down Main Street to Town Hall for a ceremony attended by veterans and current members of the Armed Forces, local and state officials, students, and many of the town's youth organizations, including the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and Boys & Girls Club.

"To us on most days, our brave veterans are the people we see walking the dog, buying groceries, and going to church," State Representative Susan Williams Gifford (R-Wareham) told the crowd, adding that veterans should be remembered for their service "this day and every other day."

Wareham's veterans are "shining examples of the heights to which Americans can rise when called to do so," Gifford continued.

World War II veteran Ted DuMoulin served as Grand Marshal of the parade.

"There are so many people who are worthy of this honor as I am," DuMoulin said in recognizing his fellow veterans, before adding: "I just hope we don't have to go to any more wars. Enough is enough."

VFW Post 2846 Chaplain Ervin "Tootsie" Russell, speaking on behalf of U.S. Representative Barney Frank (D-Massachusetts), read President Barack Obama's proclamation of Veterans Day.

"We owe [veterans] a debt of honor," Russell read. "On Veterans Day we pay tribute to our veterans, the fallen, and their families."

Board of Selectmen Clerk Steve Holmes then read Wareham's own proclamation of Veterans Day. Selectmen Chair Walter Cruz presented the framed document to DuMoulin, "with gratitude," he said, "from one veteran to another."

Volunteers William R. C. White, Sharon Boyer, and veteran John Wagner organized the events with the Wareham Veterans Council.

The ceremony was followed by a lunch for veterans and parade participants. Wareham High School freshman Teddy Mathews and Dartmouth High School sophomore Amy de Silva sang patriotic songs and musical pieces from various eras for the crowd.

"I was excited to sing songs form all different time periods," said Mathews. "Veterans Day has always been a big holiday in my family," he added, noting that his grandfather, whom he never met, was a veteran.

Among other songs, de Silva sang Teresa Jennings' "American Tears." A few years ago she recorded her rendition of the song and sent it to U.S. troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan in an effort to show soldiers that she appreciated their sacrifices.

In one simple sentence, de Silva, whose father serves on the Wareham Police Department, summed up a sentiment echoed by many: "The veterans mean a lot to me."