Photo courtesy Jeremiah Robinson, Mayor's Photographer

Photo featuring guest speakers (from left to right): Katy Person (Army, OEF), Commissioner Giselle Sterling (Marine Corps, OEF), Larry Cole (Army, Korea/Vietnam), Andrew Biggio (Marine Corps, OIF/OEF), Eva Alice Wagner (Army Nurse Corps, WWII), Kurt Power (Army, OIF), Mayor Martin J. Walsh, Tommy Furlong (Marine Corps, OEF) and Dr. Roger Harris (Marine Corps, Vietnam (not pictured, Tony Molina (Marine Corps, Vietnam).

On November 10, 2017, the City of Boston Veterans’ Services and Brighton Marine held the annual Boston Veterans Town Hall event for veterans and members of the community in recognition of Veterans Day. The event was part of a National Veterans Town Hall Initiative conceived by author Sebastian Junger. It is a community forum aiming to establish a greater understanding between local veterans and the friends and neighbors they fought for.

In the tradition of warrior storytelling, veterans were invited to describe the pride, grief, rage, or quiet appreciation of life that military service, sometimes during war, bestowed upon them. Veterans shared what their service meant to them through a story, summary of service, message, letter home, excerpt from a war journal, or even the story behind a photograph or other artistic medium.

The event was organized to be solemn and non-political. There was no question-and-answer period afterward. No debate on the merits or justifications of war, no recriminations or accusations. This was simply a chance for veterans to tell the community about their experience. Non-veterans are invited to attend, to listen, and to learn.

2017 Boston Veterans Town Hall RSVP —>

Members of the press were asked to obtain permission from veteran speakers before releasing to the public. The Town Hall was held from 1:00-3:00 pm at the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Museum, fourth floor, Faneuil Hall, 4 S Market Street, Boston.