Lynn ceremony remembers the forgotten

LYNN – Dexter Tuft?s name was one of 37 read and remembered during Friday?s Korean War memorial ceremony in City Hall, but Tufts was also a man Martin McDonough knew and lost.McDonough served with fellow Marines in Korea in 1953. Tufts was killed serving in Korea and his name is enshrined along with the names of other Lynn residents on a city memorial.?He lived up the street from me,” McDonough said.City Veterans Services Director Michael Sweeney read Tufts and the other names off while 30 veterans and others gathered in City Hall?s foyer saluted or bowed their heads. Vietnam War veteran John Sacherski thanked Korean War veterans during his ceremony speech.?They opened their arms to Vietnam veterans. I thank you from the bottom of my heart. Thank you for accepting us,” Sacherski said.Sacherski said the Korean War made the names of battles like “Heartbreak Ridge,” “Pork Chop Hill” and “Bloody Ridge” sacred to veterans. Mayor Judith Flanagan Kennedy presented a city proclamation during the ceremony in honor of Korean War veterans, and said they exhibited the “highest standard of bravery.”?Korea was first thought of as the forgotten war. We in Lynn don?t forget,” Kennedy said.Norman Kitchell of Lynn served in the 1st Marine Division from 1952 to 1955. The Brooklyn native said it was difficult to talk about his Korea experiences when he returned home.?No one wanted to believe the war was what it was. Korea was the first war where women and children went to war against us. We lost a lot of good men,” Kitchell said.Like McDonough, Kitchell said events honoring veterans like Friday?s ceremony sponsored by the Lynn Veterans Council “make me feel it was worthwhile.”He called Sacherski?s thank you to Korean veterans “a wonderful acknowledgment.”Army veteran James Smith sang the national anthem during the ceremony and Army veteran Richard Berry performed “Taps.”The English High School Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps color guard also participated in Friday?s ceremony.