Revere veteran emphasizes Memorial Day’s importance

REVERE – A member of the Greatest Generation recalled D-Day as a collaboration among the Allies and all branches of the U.S. armed forces, urging residents to remember this theme of shared sacrifice by observing Memorial Day to “honor the courage of every generation.””Memorial Day makes our country richer, our people finer and (our country’s) future brighter,” World War II Army veteran Thomas Hill at the city Memorial Day Exercises Monday at the American Legion Building on Broadway.Hill is a lifelong resident of Revere who joined the U.S. Army on Oct. 31, 1942 and was discharged in December 1945 after serving in the Pacific with the 5th Army Air Corps as a high speed radio operator. But Hill did not speak of his own experiences helping locate pilots who ditched their aircrafts during combat. Like other guest speakers, Hill emphasized how many have died while in the armed forces.Acknowledging the upcoming 70th anniversary of D-Day, when Allied forces stormed heavily fortified beaches in Normandy, France to invade Europe and defeat Hitler, Hill described how every division of the armed forces participated in the invasion. While the Army stormed the beaches, Air Force pilots flew overhead and Navy and Coast Guard ships patrolled the waters, Hill recounted. And (although often overlooked in their participation), Hill emphasized that the Marines were at D-Day as well. And that shared sacrifice did not just occur on the French coast on June 6, 1944.Hill also recounted that 211 Revere citizens have died in five wars since Revere was incorporated as a city in 1915.”That’s who we remember today,” he said.Speaker of the House Robert DeLeo urged attendees to remember not only those members of the armed forces who died in conflict, but also those who survived and returned home. Although DeLeo did not directly mention allegations of long wait times at several veterans hospitals across the nation – including allegations that veterans died while awaiting treatment at a Phoenix hospital – he emphasized and praised the city’s and the Commonwealth’s commitment to veterans.”When they come in, we want them to know they will be guaranteed the best services,” DeLeo said. He said he was particularly proud of legislation called the Valor Acts I and II, which were passed with specific revisions to enhance veterans’ employment, education and health care benefits.”These brave men and women made this country the greatest country in the world,” DeLeo said. “May God bless the United States of America and may God bless those who fought and died to keep us free.”