MEXICO — “Our debt to these heroes can never be repaid. But our gratitude and respect must last forever,” Mexico/Rumford Town Manager John Madigan told a Veterans Day crowd at Mountain Valley Middle School on Friday.

“For many veterans, our nation was important enough to endure long separations from their families, miss the births of their children, freeze in sub-zero temperatures, baked in wild jungles, lose limbs and far too often, lose their lives,” he said. “Military spouses have had to endure career interruptions, frequent changes of address and disproportionate share of parental responsibility.”

Madigan said the children often had to deal with changes in schools, separation from friends, and hardest of all, the uncertainty of whether or not their mother of father will live through their next combat tour.

“Warriors need advocates and that is why the American Legion exists,” Madigan said. “Veterans need each other but more importantly, our country needs our veterans. You cannot fight a war without veterans and while the Utopian idea of a society without war is appealing, let us not forget that wars have liberated slaves, stopped genocide and toppled terrorists.”

Madigan said fewer than 10 percent of Americans can claim the title of veteran. “Far less than 1 percent of the population is currently defending us in the global war against terrorism,” he said. “And yet, many intent on balancing the federal budget diminish the quality of life programs designed for the families who have already disproportionately made these sacrifices.

Veterans have given us freedom, security and the greatest nation on earth. It’s impossible to put a price tag on that. We must remember them. We must appreciate them,” he said.

The program was organized by Cmdr. Edward J. Roach Jr. of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and Cmdr. Bill Petrie of the American Legion. The master of ceremonies was Carol Roach, American Legion Auxiliary Unit 24 Executive Committee member.

Members of the Mountain Valley High School band, with director Michael Prescott, performed the “Armed Forces Medley,” with veterans standing up when their military branch was recognized.

The symbolism of the POW-MIA table was conducted by Kirk Thurston, American Legion Area 2 commander, and Jo Bordeau, American Legion Post 24 chaplain and Americanism officer.

Tricia Thurston, sergeant-at-arms and American Legion Post 24 finance officer, read the memorial poem “In Flanders Fields,” which tells why the poppy is the official symbol of Veterans Day.

The Rumford Area Girl Scouts sang “Yankee Doodle Dandy” and “You’re a Grand Old Flag.”

Performing the national anthem was the Rumford Association for the Advancement of the Performing Arts, led by conductor Robert Bohren.

Elaine Michaud led the audience in singing “God Bless America.”

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