PENTA Honors Local Veterans

WESTBOROUGH _ On Thursday, May 11^th, PENTA Communications, Inc. (PENTA) recognized local veterans in honor of Military Appreciation Month, with its 4^th Annual Flag Raising Celebration. Attendees from all parts of the region, including state and local officials, honored veterans, and community members, gathered at the integrated marketing firm’s corporate headquarters, located at 208 Turnpike Road in Westborough.

It has become a PENTA tradition bringing the community together to honor the many sacrifices made by men and women in the United States Armed Forces.

PENTA welcomed members of the local Veteran Community, and family members of those currently serving in the Armed Forces on active duty. Special recognition was given to Westborough Gold Star Mother Rita Lee, who plays an important role in the Veteran Community.

Francisco A. Ureña, Secretary of the Department of Veterans’ Services for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, delivered the keynote speech. Event speakers included Massachusetts Senate Majority Leader Harriette Chandler and State Senator Michael Moore. Massachusetts State Representative Carolyn Dykema, State Representative Danielle Gregoire, and State Representative Hannah Kane also took the Speaker’s Stage.

“This event, which is near and dear to our hearts, honors all men and women in active duty, who are retired from service, and anyone who at one point in their lives offered selfless duty to our great nation,” said Deborah Penta, CEO of PENTA Communications, Inc.

Penta introduced Keynote Speaker Secretary Ureña, who served in the United States Marine Corps for eight years, and was awarded a Purple Heart for his service during the Operation Iraqi Freedom campaign.

“It is within communities like Westborough, and Central Massachusetts, and places like these that the true spirit of America is seen. Places like PENTA Communications who take a day out of their busy schedules to place together a function for the fourth annual year, solely for recognizing the service of our Gold Star families, our Blue Star families, and that of our veteran and military families. To put a focus on raising a flag. A flag that we all know what it stands for but it symbolic to the history of this community,” said Secretary Ureña.

“Every day we have people who remind us that freedom is not free. Freedom is something we have to live up to every single day. This great Commonwealth will do all that it can to help [veterans] make their transition as easy as possible and their lives as fulfilling as possible,” said Massachusetts Senate Majority Leader Chandler.

State Senator Michael Moore shared his appreciation of the sacrifices made by our armed forces and their families. “The society of the United States has maintained its stature, and maintained democracy, and all the principles we stand for by the sacrifices our veterans have made over these years, and also their families,” said Senator Moore.

“I stand before you this morning as the proud daughter and granddaughter of veterans, and I stand before you to thank you for your service and your patriotism, and to remind you of our commitment to you. Massachusetts has been and will remain number one in the country for veteran services,” added State Representative Danielle Gregoire.

State Representative Dykema recognized all veterans in attendance, their families, and those serving in active duty. “I thought about all of the reasons we appreciate our military. For their service and their sacrifice, the sacrifice of their families, for their willingness to put their lives at stake for all of those freedoms and liberties that we enjoy here today and every day, but also I want to recognize their contributions as role models to all of us and to our next generation,” said Representative Dykema.

State Representative Kane offered her sincere gratitude and appreciation for the sacrifices made by our veterans. “I’m really honored to be here with all of you all today as we gather to raise our flag and remember the sacrifices that our service members, our family, friends, and community members have made in honor of duty to country, under the flag that we all recognize as a symbol of our great nation,” said Kane.

“I’ve always understood that our flag stood as a visual reminder of all the faces I would never see, of all the patriots I would never meet. I understood that the flag would stand in all times. In times of great joy and celebration for our country, at times of unrest, and at times of protest. And at times, this lonely symbol may seem like the only common bond we have, and yet the flag is our bond. It’s illustrative of the hope of fighting for a new country promising freedom and is a pain of bloodshed in that fight to attain it. It reminds us here at home that all that we are, a country founded by a few for the freedom of many is still the most enduring sign of hope in our world today,” she added.

The entire State Delegation honored PENTA Communications with a Citation presented from the House of Representatives and the Senate, recognizing the firm’s magnanimous efforts to bring honor to Veterans each year. In 2016, Governor Charlie Baker sent recognition to the Marketing Firm with a Memorial Day Proclamation, in honor of the firm’s ongoing efforts to recognize and pay tribute to Veterans throughout the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

After the speaking program, attendees proceeded to PENTA’s courtyard for the Flag Raising Ceremony, where members of the Northborough American Legion Post 234 Color Guard, Secretary Ureña, and other distinguished guests participated in raising the Flag in honor of our nation’s freedoms and with gratitude to all those who have served.

Participants placed commemorative American flags on the front lawn of The PENTA Building to honor friends and family members who have served or are currently serving in the United States military.

Penta ended the presentation with an expression of gratitude and support. “Each year, we make a charitable donation to a veteran’s organization. And this year, we are delighted to announce that we will make a charitable donation through the PENTA Legacy Fund to Fishing with Warriors, a wonderful new 501c3 organization that is founded by Westborough residents and Vietnam Veterans Al Lizotte with CFO Denny Drewry. This charity brings together veterans for comradery and offers support for their well-being.”

The Westborough High School (WHS) Chamber Singers and the WHS Saxophone Quartet performed throughout the event.

To view event coverage, please visit: https://www.facebook.com/PENTAmarketingUSA/