HYANNIS – Part of the somber line of “boots on the ground” that represent the 14 Cape Cod residents who have been killed in the line of duty while serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. The array was set up at the KMart Plaza as it is every Memorial Day weekend for the “Spotlight on the Troops” event sponsored by Cape Cod Cares for the Troops.
Three of the ever diminishing band of World War 2 veterans on Cape. These members of “the Greatest Generation” are now in their 80s and 90s. A precious few have made it to 100 and beyond, but not many. The event also singled out Korean vets, who are almost as old; Vietnam vets, in their 60s and 70s; and of course those who have more recently served in the first Gulf War as well as Iraq and Afghanistan.
Barnstable County Sheriff James Cummings welcomes and thanks one of the immediate family members who lost a loved one in the post-9/11 war on terrorism. Behind him is the line of troops, all service branches, who along with the line of boots and rifles are a signature visual of the event.
As you can see here, this flag flew the highest of them all at the KMart plaza. These Navy cadets are far younger than the World War 2 and Korean vets on hand – in most cases 70 to 75 years younger. Meanwhile, the flag has changed since the one that went up over Iwo Jima – two stars being added for our 49th (Alaska) and 50th (Hawaii) states.
Peter Aylward, retired Army major general, speaks for the Iraq and Afghanistan veterans.
Media release and photos furnished by Barnstable Sheriff’s Office
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Is there a Kmart veterns event in hyannis on Sunday?!