Sentence:  One day when he <WSD>attended</WSD> a war memorial ceremony in Westminster Abbey his view was obstructed by a stout man on his left , his attention turned to the irregular pattern of the rough slab flooring and someone , clasping him by the arm , whispered , `` I want a word with you , please '' . 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  be present at (meetings, church services, university), etc.