BOSTON — In the presence of six Iwo Jima veterans, Lynn Mayor Thomas M. McGee accepted the Semper Fidelis Public Service Award.
The ceremony, in the historic Hall of Flags at the Massachusetts State House, was in honor of the 74th anniversary of The Battle of Iwo Jima, an epic military campaign between U.S. Marines and the Imperial Army of Japan in early 1945, according to History.com. John MacGillivray, of Marine Corps League Metrowest Detachment 1037, said the award is meant to recognize an elected official for their outstanding service.
“I’m honored and humbled to be here with six real heroes, as well as Gold Star families and a room full of veterans, to get this award,” said McGee. “I’m almost at a loss for words at this great honor.”
The award is given out every year in front of Iwo Jima veterans as a way to inspire the individual receiving it, said MacGillivray. Gov. Charlie Baker won the award in 2017, and Senate President Karen Spilka won in 2018.
Spilka, who embraced McGee as his name was called for the award, applauded the Lynn mayor’s unbending enthusiasm and collaborative working style. McGee’s longtime fights for regional equity, statewide transportation, and increasing veteran services make him the most suitable recipient for this year’s award, said Spilka.
“Standing up for veterans and the benefits they deserve is the easy part,” said McGee. “Signing up at 17, 18, or 19 years old to step up for this country was the hard part. My dad never really talked about it, but he served in the major battles that happened in the Pacific and he was such an inspiration to not only myself but my brothers and my sister.”
Larry Kirby, one of the six Marine veterans in attendance, shared his story about The Battle of Iwo Jima. On Feb. 19, 1945, American forces invaded the island, 750 miles off the coast of Japan, and the battle ensued for five long, bloody weeks.
It is believed, according to History.com, that all but 200 or so of the 21,000 Japanese forces were killed, as were almost 7,000 Marines.
“We were just teenage kids,” said Kirby. “We did the best job we could.”
Baker, who described the battle as bloody, horrific and terrifying, said the amount of sacrifice made by the folks on those battlefields, on behalf of American citizens awaiting them back home, is something that should never be forgotten.
Also in attendance was Sgt. Major Kenneth Oswald with the Lynn English High School ROTC. McGee said when he saw them in their uniforms, it reminded him of his father, who was a member of the school’s program as well.
McGee said he can’t wait to put the award in his office at Lynn City Hall, next to the photo of his father in uniform on Parris Island at the age of 17.
“Once a Marine, always a Marine,” said McGee.
