NAHANT — Rachel McCarthy is this year’s recipient of the American Legion Post 215 annual scholarship.
The award was granted to the Swampscott High School senior following review of her application essay by a scholarship committee, which was impressed by her response to the question that asked applicants to describe what the Wall That Heals — a traveling replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. scheduled to visit Nahant July 14 — means to them.
“We in Nahant are privileged to be able to host that wall,” said Commander Bob Fields. “No matter your stance regarding the Vietnam War, it was a time that impacted all Americans and touched all too many families.
“From the 58,000-plus names listed on the wall as killed in Vietnam to the hundreds of thousands negatively impacted even today, we work to remember their sacrifice and support those left behind.”
For 17-year-old McCarthy — who had a family member who was killed in action while serving as an aircraft maintenance crewman in Tay Ninh Province on Oct. 3, 1968 — receiving the award felt especially meaningful.
“The Wall That Heals allows people to pay their respects and honor fallen heroes right in their own neighborhoods,” McCarthy said. “The name of my grandmother’s cousin, Michael McCafferty, is on the wall.
“It’s such a good way for people who aren’t able to travel far away to pay their respects. Because I’m not really old enough to travel alone to Washington, I think it’s such a special way to honor the people who have served, and for me to honor my family.”
Fields said McCarthy’s essay stood out from other applicants because it “fully capture(d) why the wall is important,” as well as the significance of Nahant being one of just two towns in the Northeast selected to host it.
“We had many great entries,” Fields said. “It’s also great to read the answers submitted to get a flavor of (who) will ultimately become our future leaders.”
McCarthy, who also received this year’s Charles Kelley Community Service Scholarship, plans to spend part of her summer volunteering to help bring the Wall That Heals to Nahant.
American Legion Post Chaplain Toby Quirk said his organization currently has just over 110 of 407 volunteer slots filled with a little over a month left until the wall makes its way north.
“The wall is going to be open 24-hours a day for four days straight,” said Executive Board member Wayne Noonan. “It has to be manned the (entire time).”
Those interested in signing up for any of the numerous volunteer positions on offer can do so online at alpost215.org.
Making sure the wall has enough volunteers to operate come July is crucial, Quirk and Noonan said.
“When guys came back from Vietnam, they weren’t treated very well, so when you see a Vietnam veteran these days, you don’t say ‘thank you for serving,’ you say ‘welcome home.’ It’s the welcome home they never got,” Noonan said. “For veterans and their families, seeing the wall is a ‘welcome home’ they’ll never forget.”
