In Hyannis, A 24-Hour Memorial Day Tribute

spotlight troops edited.png — In Hyannis, Mass., an annual event called Spotlight on the Troops pays tribute to local veterans and fallen servicemen.

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May 27, 2019

This year marked the 15-year anniversary of a Memorial Day weekend tradition in Hyannis in which different members of the military stand at attention for 24 hours straight, each volunteering for a one-hour block of time.

Alongside Iyannough Road, across the street from the Cape Cod Mall, motorists can see between three to six volunteers from all branches of the military standing stock-still, arms at their sides, on a parked truck bed platform between 12 p.m. on Sunday and 12 p.m. on Monday. It's called Troops in the Spotlight, and is meant to honor local veterans and fallen servicemen while raising money to send care packages to soldiers stationed overseas.

Dylan de Silva, from Brewster, first organized Troops in the Spotlight when he was 11 years old.

"We started, actually, as a Christmas project called Cape Cod Cares for the Troops," de Silva said. "We sent out six care packages 15 years ago and we heard back from those who we sent them to, who said how much the need was. We sent out a few more care packages at a time, and it turned into a full organization to raise money."

Over the 15 years, the group has sent over 34,000 care packages, de Silva said. This year's event also featured an appreciation ceremony for local veterans and fallen servicemen, set up in the Capetown Plaza parking lot behind the at-attention soldiers. Hundreds of attendees participated in kids' activities like face painting, toured military vehicles and enjoyed a cookout. At midnight on Monday, military taps played to mark the start of Memorial Day.

Air Force Lt. Kathleen Aguilar, from Barnstable, is currently stationed at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida. This was her sixth year volunteering. Aguilar said after participating the first time, she vowed to return to Hyannis each year to volunteer again, no matter where she was.

"One year, I stood seven times," she said. "I think of everybody who has passed. This is our way of giving back to those who have served."

Jonathan Kim, a member of the Coast Guard, is from San Diego and has been stationed in Massachusetts for three months. This was his first time volunteering for Troops in the Spotlight.

"We were told in our unit about this event, and I thought it would be pretty awesome to come out. I've been to veterans events in the past," Kim said.

When asked how it feels to stand at attention for an hour straight, he said, "Your feet are numb after 40 minutes, but it isn't bad." Kim added he thinks of the fallen soldiers along with veterans and the troops overseas.

Lt. Aguilar said participating in Troops in the Spotlight over the Memorial Day weekend is emotional.

"It's not about us in uniform. It's about those who have died in this uniform," she said. "Sometimes the radio will play a song, and the one that catches me every single time is 'American Soldier' by Toby Keith. It's hard not to cry."