Local efforts fix up Nahant tribute to fallen Vietnam G.I.

NAHANT – An aging plaque on a stone in a little known park in town has been refurbished and the Davis Memorial Park will be rededicated on Nov. 11 at 9:30 a.m.The memorial boulder dedicated to Nahant native Cpl. Richard A. Davis is located at the intersection of Swallow Cave and Nahant roads at East Point.The inscription on it reads “In Memoriam Cpl. Richard R. Davis USMC 1947-1967 Memorial Point, died in service to his country, dedicated by American Legion, Mortimer G. Robbins Post #235.”Davis was killed in action in Vietnam during fighting at Quang Tri on July 6, 1967. He was one of six children and his younger brother Peter Davis, who still lives in town and is a chef at Henrietta’s Table at The Charles Hotel in Cambridge, said he has fond memories of his late brother.?There were six of us kids,” Peter Davis said. “There were three girls and three boys in our family. All three of us boys shared a room. Richard was quite a bit older than I was and I remember when he first got his license, he used to drive me to hockey practice in Lynn.”Peter Davis said after high school his brother, who was a 1965 graduate of Classical High School, attended Wentworth Institute in Boston and then decided to join the Marines.?He was always very driven,” he said. “He broke his collarbone during boot camp but it didn’t stop him. I can remember when he came home on leave around Christmas. We had a huge snowstorm and within 24 hours of when he arrives home he was out driving a snowplow for the town. “Peter Davis said he also vividly remembers the day his brother was killed.?I went away to summer camp,” he said. “I had only been there a few days when my parents showed up and gave me the news.”Peter Davis said the family was lucky because town residents supported his family when his brother was killed, and that support continues today.?We really appreciate all the time and effort that went into this,” he said. “It is a fitting tribute to my brother and we’ll be at the dedication.”Selectman Richard Lombard, who is a Vietnam veteran, said he was out walking when he noticed the stone and area surrounding it had been neglected.?I noticed a lot of work needed to be done there,” he said. “The bronze plaque was hard to read and really needed to be cleaned.”Lombard said the stone was installed before the pump station was built and it was situated too close to the pumping station .David DeFilippo, who owns Woodlawn Memorials in Everett, and John Sullivan of Solimine Funeral Home, volunteered to refurbish the bronze plaque at no cost to the town.?The bronze plaque had oxidized and it was very difficult to read,” DeFilippo said. “We used a wire wheel to remove the green oxidation and doing that makes the marker look kind of gold in color. We applied a brown-based lacquer then buffed the lettering so it would stand out.”DeFilippo said the key to keeping the monument looking new is applying a clear protective sealant after the restorative work is done.?Years ago they didn’t have these types of sealant,” he said. “It really is key to helping prevent future oxidation and keeping the monument looking new.”Resident Mark Irving donated the flag pole for the park, which has already been installed.Following the re-dedication ceremony, a Veteran’s Day service will be held at 11 a.m. in Greenlawn Cemetery and a brief ceremony will be held at 11:30 a.m. in Veteran’s Park.