A decade ago, as Tiverton Historical Society volunteers were cleaning up the attic at the old Chace-Cory House at Four Corners, they made an interesting discovery: A tattered, rolled-up broadside from August 1919, calling on all in Tiverton to help celebrate the victorious of troops from the War to End All Wars, later known as World War I. The event was held Saturday, Aug. 30, 1919.

"Everybody declare a holiday and join in making the affair one grand glorious event long to be remembered as the best ever," the broadside reads. "Everybody join in the celebration and make it the greatest event in the history of the town."

On Friday, society president Caroline Wordell carefully drove the old broadside, now framed and preserved, to the World War I Memorial at Grinnell's Beach, where the society began its annual Veterans' Day exercises promptly at 11 a.m. She told the crowd of about 50 that it's worth remembering the early 20th century's post-war days, and the sacrifices that service members, as they do now, made then. Times may change, but sacrifice and service does not, she said.

"Thank you for your service, and to the families of veterans, thank you for your service," Wordell said. "Families are often the unsung heroes, staying home and trying to keep the home fires burning, all the while worrying and wondering what was happening with their veteran, especially during times of little communication. I cannot imagine waiting at home for literally months with no communication from loved ones."

Tiverton's event was a small affair, and attracted veterans and current service members all the way from World War II to a young couple, currently in the Navy, who serve in Newport.

"We're here to honor heroes like you, to remember their achievements, their courage and their dedication, and to say thank you," the society's Laura Anderson said. "Thinking of the heroes who jin us in this group today and those who are here only in spirit, a person can't help but feel awed by the enormity of what we encounter. We stand in the midst of patriots."