People, Places, and Things: 3-16-15

Lynn couple celebrates golden anniversaryRobert and Joanne (Healey) Karakaedos of Lynn recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. They were married on Nov. 22, 1964 at St. Pius V Church.Joanne was born and raised in Lynn, where she was self-employed as a family childcare provider. Since retirement, she has kept quite busy with her family; she also enjoys reading, working puzzles, going to the YMCA, bowling and spending time at the ocean.Bob was born in Peabody and raised in Lynn. Although retired from United Dye Company and Metal Improvement Company, he works as a crossing guard at Lynn Woods School. Bob enjoys all sports, and he likes meeting his friends at Paul’s barbershop, bowling and trips to Maine.Bob and Joanne have two children, daughter Robin Mannion of Lynn and son Joel and his wife, Carissa Karakaedos, of West Peabody. They also have seven grandchildren, whom they enjoy spending time with and engaging in their sports and dance activities.They are waiting for winter to pass to celebrate their milestone with a cruise to Bermuda.New secretary of veterans’ services welcomed at Vietnam vets meeting in LynnThe Vietnam Veterans of America, Massachusetts (VVA MA) State Council held its quarterly meeting March 7 at the Franco-American Amvets post 161 on Western Avenue, welcoming Francisco Urena, the newly appointed secretary of veterans’ services, as the keynote speaker.Urena is a Lawrence native and Marine veteran of the Iraq War, where he received a Purple Heart. He discussed the Baker administration’s efforts to increase veterans’ involvement and use of local and state services.This is the first time the council has met in Lynn, as part of a new plan to rotate meetings among different cities where the VVA MA has chapters. Members of local VVA 908 welcomed the state council, which also gave legislative updates on national bills involving medical treatment for exposure to Agent Orange and other toxic chemicals, as well as an effort to create a Virtual Vietnam Wall, where every name carved on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., will be accompanied by a photograph of the deceased.