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Remembering
Armistice Day in North Andover
Ted
Tripp
 November 11th is Veterans Day, the
day when we honor our country’s veterans from all
wars. North Andover will celebrate with its usual parade,
ceremony at Ridgewood Cemetery and gathering at the VFW
hall on Park Street.
Those who are older will remember that Veterans Day used
to be called Armistice Day before 1954 when President
Eisenhower signed legislation changing the name.
Armistice Day was established in 1919 to recognize all
those who fought and died in the World War – which
World War I was called at the time. The armistice treaty
ending the war on the Western Front was signed near
Compiègne, France at the 11th hour on the 11th day of
the 11th month of 1918. This explains the tradition of a
moment of silence at 11 a.m. on November 11th, Veterans
Day.
North Andover has a long tradition of recognizing its
veterans. The World War was no exception. At the annual
town meeting in March 1920, the town appropriated $7,500
for a monument to be erected in memory of those who
served in the war. Two years later town meeting accepted
Memorial Park, donated by the Tavern Land Company, and
now called Patriots Memorial Park across from the
library.
On June 10, 1922, North Andover officially dedicated a
beautiful marble Memorial Monument to the World War
veterans and the Memorial Park in which it stands.
The ceremony was presided over by Nathaniel Stevens. The
High School Chorus sang “America the Beautiful.”
The monument was unveiled by Mrs. Thomas Thompson and
Mrs. Ernest Drouin, respectively representing Albert
Thomson and Arthur Drouin, who were the only North
Andover residents killed in the war. After presentation
and acceptance of the monument, the High School Chorus
sang “To Thee Oh Country.” The principal
address was given by Rev. William Patrick, chaplain of
American Legion Post 219.
There was also a parade to celebrate the occasion. It was
led by the Platoon Police, the Foss’ Military Band,
Wagon Company 102, and Battery C. This was followed by
the Eighth Regiment Drum Corps and members of American
Legion Post 219 North Andover, Post 15 Lawrence and Post
122 Methuen. The third division included the Girl Scouts,
Boy Scouts, Fire Department and automobiles with Grand
Army of the Republic veterans and invited guests.
North Andover only had about 6100 residents at the time
of the World War. Of those, 340 chose to serve their
country when it needed them most. This Veterans Day, let’s
also remember those who served in that long-forgotten war
and to whom this appreciative holiday was originally
dedicated.
Ted Tripp is an International Consultant in high-tech
manufacturing methods. He has BS and MS degrees in
Chemical Engineering from MIT. You can reach him at tripp@gis.net
*Send your questions comments to ValleyPatriot@aol.com
The November, 2006
Edition of the Valley Patriot
The Valley Patriot is a Monthly
Publication.
All Contents (C) 2006, Valley Patriot, Inc.
We publish 9,000 newspapers and distribute in Andover,
North Andover,
Methuen, Haverhill, Chelmsford, Georgetown, Groveland,
Boxford,
Lawrence, Dracut, Tewksbury, Hampton & Salisbury
Beach, and Lowell.
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