Smithfield’s American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars posts co-hosted the town’s annual Veterans Day ceremony at 11 a.m. on Nov. 11 at The Smithfield Center. The date, originally called Armistice Day, marks the anniversary of the end of World War I, which ended on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918, and now serves to honor active-duty and retired military. Retired Army Lt. Col. Christopher Garrett, VFW committee chairman, noted in his remarks that there are 170,000 active-duty American troops currently deployed. "If not for them, we would not be able to assemble freely,” said Smithfield Mayor Steve Bowman.
Michael Formica, executive deputy to the commanding general of U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command, or TRADOC, at Fort Eustis, was this year’s guest speaker. He retired at the rank of colonel in 2009 after 27 years of active duty. "The service of America’s veterans never truly ends, even when they hang up their military uniforms for the last time,” Formica said. "You embraced the respective service values and share a bond of patriotism and pride, you came from every walk of life but are bound by one common theme: commitment to defend America. Each of you answered the call and swore an oath to defend the Constitution of the United States.” The ceremony also included performances by Smithfield High School’s Choraliers and band.
