With their uniforms pressed, hats straightened and hands flexed above the brow in a firm salute, Newton's veterans stood proud and strong yesterday morning. 

The city thanked their veterans yesterday with a ceremony held at Nonantum American Legion Post #440. Several local officials appeared before the crowd of veterans, families and children to salute the men and women in uniform. 

"I'm honored to be here today not only as your mayor but as a veteran myself," said Mayor Setti Warren.

Warren, a Navy veteran of the Iraq War, remembered and recognized his father and grandfather, veterans of the Korean War and World War II. Waking up on this Nov. 11 felt different, Warren said, because it was the first Veterans Day without his father.

The mayor also spoke to the hardships veterans endure while they are away as well as the difficulties they face when returning home.

"Coming back is hard," Warren said. "Adjusting and accepting changes not of our own making is difficult. Living a normal life again can seem beyond our reach, but we can and we do because our values--the ones that lead us to serve and the ones that our service taught us--guide us for the rest of our lives."

In addition to Warren, other local officials who spoke included Veterans Service Officer John MacGillivray, State Rep. Peter Koutoujian (D-Waltham) and Alderman Anthony Salvucci, who is a veteran as well.

At the conclusion of the ceremony, veteran and Alderman Carleton Merrill announced a city proclamation that allocates a two-minute moment of silence on the the eleventh hour of Veterans Day--the first of its kind in the nation, MacGillivray said. 

Please view our slideshow to view snapshots from today's ceremony.