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Source: Cape Cod Times, Hyannis, Mass.mini storageNov. 11--BOURNE -- In November of 1919, soon after the official end of World War I, President Woodrow Wilson declared Nov. 11 a day to reflect, with pride and gratitude, on the heroism and service of the country's veterans.Those words -- pride and gratitude -- were heard often during Sunday's Veterans Day ceremony at Massachusetts National Cemetery, where hundreds of veterans and their families gathered to celebrate as Wilson had imagined nearly 100 years ago.After Virginia Ledoux, the secretary for the Joint Veterans Committee, read John McCrea's 1915 poem "In Flanders Fields," a reflection on the sacrifices of soldiers fighting in the First World War, Capt. Stephen Torpey, the commanding officer for Air Station Cape Cod, gave the ceremony's main address.Torpey focused not only on veterans, but also on the families of veterans, and he asked the military families in the audience to stand and receive recognition before asking the veterans in the audience to stand."There are missed anniversaries, missed birthdays," said Torpey of the sacrifices made by veterans and their families.Despite these sacrifices, the veterans at the ceremony spoke fondly of their service."I'm gratified that I had the opportunity to serve," said Navy veteran Kent Wampler, 79, who stood up from his seat on the cemetery's lawn along with his fellow veterans.Wampler, a Wareham resident, served overseas for two years during the Korean War and said he comes to the ceremony "every year."Reflecting on his time in the service, Wampler said it was "a great adventure."Veteran Ed Langevin said he feels "pr儲存ud" when he reflects on his service in the Army and the Air Force.Langevin's pride for his fellow veterans was evident when he rose from his wheelchair to stand and salute the American flag while Robbi Laak, an Army veteran and part of the American Legion Post 188, played taps on his trumpet."I enjoyed my service overseas, and I enjoyed my years in the service," said Langevin, 66, of Worcester, who served in South Korea in 1969."I'm a little emotional about the people I've lost over the years," said Langevin, who attended the ceremony for the 10th year in a row with friends. "It's nice that people are remembered."Anthony Manfredi, a former Army National Guard corporal and the district commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars for the Cape and Islands, said he honors veterans by "serving the living."Manfredi said he sees himself as family to the young veterans who are returning from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and are in need of support.A Vietnam veteran who faced criticism when he returned home from the war, Manfredi said the "attitude toward all vets" has gotten better in the past few years, but they still need verbal support."'Welcome home' is one of the nicest things you can say to the kids coming home," said Manfredi, a Cataumet resident.He empathizes with the challenges of the men and women returning home from war, and his eyes filled with tears while talking about them."They deserve to not be forgotten by us," Manfredi said.Copyright: ___ (c)2013 the Cape Cod Times (Hyannis, Mass.) Visit the Cape Cod Times (Hyannis, Mass.) at .capecodonline.com Distributed by MCT Information Services迷你倉