Although the nation will have its soldiers in its thoughts this Monday, people had reason to do so this past Tuesday as well, Westborough Council on Aging Executive Director Alma DeManche says.

“This past week, we were able to go do something that we take for granted. We were all able to go to the polls, cast a vote, didn’t have to tell anybody who we voted for unless we wanted to. There were no soldiers with guns standing outside the polls.  And we were able to elect the president who will lead our country,” DeManche said Friday during the annual Honor Our Veterans luncheon at the Westborough Senior Center.

“No matter which side of that you’re on, that’s something that we need to actually not take for granted. And by virtue of the fact that many of you sitting in this room today, and those of us who are not with us anymore, made a sacrifice – whether it was the ultimate sacrifice or just putting your life on hold for a period of time – made it possible for us to go do that on Tuesday and take for granted that we could do it. And for that, I say, ‘Thank you very much.’”

Veterans then stood to be recognized with applause, starting with the Army.

Westborough’s Veterans Day observance is from 9 to 11 a.m. Monday.

However, one of the two residents chosen as grand marshals, World War II veteran James Zographos, is ill and will miss the event, Veterans Agent/Director Veterans Services George Perry III said.

William Carr, a World War II and Korean War veteran who was also chosen as a grand marshal, will still participate Monday, Perry said.

“Thank you, Bill, for your service,” Perry said.

Friday’s event was sponsored in part by the Central One Federal Credit Union.