Town to Honor Veterans in Service, at Football Game

A double-header is coming on Friday, but not for a Westwood sports team. 

Instead, residents in town will have two opportunities to honor those who have served in the Armed Forces on Friday, as the town commemorates Veterans Day 2011. 

However, because Veteran's Day falls on a Friday this year, the varsity football team is inviting all area veterans to Friday night's home game vs. Hopkinton. The evening event will follow Westwood's annual morning service, which will begin at 11 a.m. on Friday at Veterans Park, according to Westwood Veterans Agent Chris McKeown.

Veterans who plan to attend the game are asked to call 781-320-1008 or email veterans@townhall.westwood.ma.us to inform officials that they will be attending. Veterans can also request transportation through those contacts as well. 

All veterans will be admitted to the game for free, and will have special seating at the game, during which they will also be acknowledged.

For the morning event, which will be similar to last year's, the Town of Westwood will hold a special Veterans Day memorial service, featuring speeches and thoughts by a handful of residents and officials. 

featured a speeches by various figures in town, from Richard Paster of Westwood's American Legion Post 320 to Eagle Scout Ryan Dukeman. 

, a U.S. Marine and former World War II pilot, was also present last year, and read "In Flanders Field," a famous war poem believed to have been written by Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae in May of 1915.

Westwood Public Schools will be closed on Friday to observe the holiday.