On Monday, November 11, Stow-area veterans enjoyed a hearty breakfast while being honored at the First Parish Church of Stow and Acton,  in Stow. 
 
The breakfast, sponsored by the Rotary Club of Nashoba Valley, featured presentations from State Senator Jamie Eldridge, State Representative Kate Hogan, and the keynote speaker, Colonel Arvid R. Hill, Director of International Affairs and Director of Plans, Operations and Readines,. Colonel Hill spoke on “Honor Veterans Today but Appreciate Them Always” and emphasized the role of the National Guard in defending our country and how that role has expanded over recent years. 
 
Colonel Hill's positions involve strategic planning, organizational assessment, and building partner capacity with our state’s partnership program countries of Kenya and Paraguay.  Colonel Hill’s awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, and Army Achievement Medal. Previous duty assignments include command of the 110th Maintenance Company in Ayer, MA and command of the 126th Brigade Support Battalion in Springfield, MA as well as multiple other duty assignments throughout the Commonwealth. Colonel Hill was deployed during 2003-2004 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom at Tallil Air Base in Iraq. He l is a graduate of the United States Army War College, holds two Masters Degrees, and lives in Dudley, MA with his family.