Community

City and state government officials and veterans took turns giving speeches honoring veterans—their words at times lost to the meek microphone battling valiantly with the wind and construction— to a modestly sizable crowd. Manchester’s West High School band played the Star-Spangled Banner at the beginning of the ceremony and Taps at the end. A Girl Scout troop led the crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance. A local priest offered a prayer to open the ceremony and a  benediction to close.