When Jonathan Sistare came to work in Salem, he quickly learned it’s a community with a high level of patriotism.

American flags stand along Geremonty Drive, Salem’s 2006 town report is dedicated to two local soldiers killed in Iraq, and Veterans Memorial Parkway honors those who served the nation.

Sistare, a lieutenant colonel in the Army Reserve who spent a year serving in Iraq before becoming Salem’s town manager in October, noted Salem’s patriotism as the keynote speaker at Woodbury School’s Veterans Day program.

The annual event honors veterans for their courage and their service, and Sistare, too, was honored – receiving a Bronze Star for exceptional meritorious service to Operation Iraqi Freedom.

“To all of the veterans – your fighting for our freedom has allowed us to have annual events such as this,” said Principal Maura Palmer during the Friday, Nov. 9, ceremony.

“It has been my privilege to be among you this morning.”

The program was hosted by sixth-grade students. Chorus members sang the national anthem and other patriotic songs, and the student jazz band played a “Swingin’ Salute to Our Veterans.” Members of the student council delivered gifts to the veterans, who were treated to a free breakfast.

Six students each read an essay about veterans. A poem written by Emily Kisiel said, “You committed your life so I could be free, if it wasn’t for veterans where would I be?

When your country called, you did not flee. You answered the call and helped protect me.”

Cadet Major Harrison Flodin, 17, of the Air Force JROTC at Salem High School, led a remembrance program of POWs and MIAs.

Lloyd Ranlett was one of the veterans sitting in the audience.

Ranlett, who served as a Marine in Korea, had been invited to the breakfast by his granddaughter, Corrie Sullivan, a student at the school.

“It was very nice,” said his wife, Patricia, after the ceremony. “I’ve been crying through the whole thing.”

Gov. John Lynch pinned the Bronze Star on Sistare.

Earlier, Lynch told the audience that Veterans Day began nearly a century ago as a way to recognize the armistice that was the official end of World War I.

Since then, he said, freedom and democracy have been challenged.

“But each time, a new generation of men and women answered our nation’s call to service. That’s why it’s so important that we honor our veterans,” Lynch said. “Not just today but every day. They fought for our nation with honor and dignity and they have asked for so little in return.”

The debt owed to veterans can never be fully repaid, Lynch said, so it’s important that every day others give them the honor and respect they deserve.

“Our veterans are ordinary people,” Lynch said. “But their courage and their actions and sacrifices are truly extraordinary.

That’s why it’s so important that we pause today and every day to recognize our veterans and to thank them for their sacrifice.”

The event also featured a slideshow produced by Salem Observer photographer Bruce Preston that paid tribute to the two Salem soldiers killed in Iraq in 2006: Marine Lance Cpl. Robert Moscillo and Army Cpl. Nicholas Arvanitis.

“During that time, I noticed that not only once, but twice, people within this community all wanted to reach out and help and provide some level of comfort and support to the families,” Preston said.