SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WGGB/WSHM) - The Springfield Veterans’ Services Department hosted the city’s annual Memorial Day commemoration on Friday.

The ceremony began with a program honoring our nation’s heroes, who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. After that, a memorial wreath was laid at each of the five veteran monuments at Veterans Way, across from City Hall.

“Memorial Day is the weekend and day to remember the ones that gave the ultimate sacrifice. When they signed on that dotted line, they didn’t know what sacrifice they were going to do. A lot of them were drafted in. You know that ultimate sacrifice that was paid in blood gives us the freedoms that we have here today. That’s what makes us the greatest country on earth,” said Springfield Veteran Services Director Joe Decaro.

Mayor Sarno was in attendance and shared some of his remarks in a statement — he said in short, “freedom is never free, and it is because of our veterans that we are the beacon of democracy, strength, hope, freedom, and opportunity.”

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