LYNNFIELD — Honoring those who have served in the military on Veterans Day has been a long-standing tradition all across the United States for many years.
In Lynnfield, several hundred residents kicked it up a notch Monday with the dedication of the town’s new Veterans Memorial. Located off South Common Street next to the Town Common, the memorial is inscribed with the names of every Lynnfield veteran dating back to the Revolutionary War through the War on Terrorism along with a brief, historical summary of the 11 wars depicted on the memorial.
Retired Col. and former Select Board member Joe Connell, who spearheaded the efforts to see his dream become a reality, thanked all those who contributed to the effort, saying, “This is something we can all be proud of.
“Our liberties and values stand safe today because of the brave men and women who have been ready to face the fire. We thank God for each and every one of them,” he added.
Connell referred to 1,090 plus veterans whose names are inscribed on the memorial as “our town heroes,” adding the memorial is the “best way to keep past events alive in public memory by putting them front and center.” He noted the American flag flying high was a “special flag” having been flown at the United States Forces Afghanistan Headquarters on July 4, 2008.
The ceremony had a little bit of everything including the Essex County Sheriff’s Department Color Guard. A Girl Scouts troop recited the Pledge of Allegiance. The Lynnfield High band performed the National Anthem and the anthems of the six service branches. The Lynnfield Middle School’s Pioneer Singers sang “America the Beautiful” and closed the ceremony with “God Bless America.” High school students Max Lin and Alex Adreani played “Taps” on trumpets. Fellow students Matthew Squadrito, Gianna Micelli, Hannah Doherty, Lilli McSweeney, Zarrar Raja, Andrew Orloski, Charlie Verdile, Amir Elhamrawy, Nandana Nishanth, Shea McCarthy, Sam Curtis, and Drew George read narratives of each war. Fr. Paul Ritt pastor of Ave Maria Parish and Our Lady of Assumption Church read the invocation and closing prayer.
The keynote speaker was Ret. Vice Admiral, U.S. Navy, William Merz.
“This is a great day,” Merz said. “It’s great to see so many veterans.” He described Connell as a true leader and “champion of the community.” He said of all the wars depicted on the memorial, “there’s been some element of Joe in six of them. This is a very special day and how we handle our veterans defines us as a nation.”
He said he had a message from former Chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley, with whom Connell served, congratulating Connell and to the Town of Lynnfield “on this monumental occasion.”
“Celebrating the memory of our veterans and our ‘no man left behind’ mentality fuels the will of our soldiers and sailors, airmen and Marines. You will come home. You will be remembered and you will be celebrated,” he said.
Select Board Chair Dick Dalton said that while many people have played key roles in the project, Tony Tropeano’s contributions were “extraordinary.” Earlier in the week, Tropeano and Historical Commission Chair Kirk Mansfield were chosen as recipients of the Daniel Townsend Award.
“It is only fitting that the Townsend Award – named after perhaps the most distinguished veteran in this Town’s history – is awarded to an individual who has contributed so much to this monument,” Dalton said. “This monument, that for generations to come, will act as a tribute and a reminder to us all – of the brave men and women who have served our nation.”
Master of Ceremonies and Lynnfield Town Administrator Rob Dolan said the project was unlike anything he’s ever seen.
“The partnership between the federal and state governments, all the incredible business people like Mr. (Tony) Tropeano. The small donations from children and elderly and veterans and people who don’t even live here,” he said.
Dolan said State Sen. Brendan Crighton (D – Lynn) and House Minority Leader Rep. Bradley H. Jones, Jr. (R – North Reading) were among the first people the town reached out to.
“Their combined effort every year to find grants for us is incredible and they brought us $150,000 to help us build this memorial,” Dolan said.
Crighton thanked all the veterans and families in attendance. He credited Jones for leading the charge, saying, “My hat is off to you.”
He was mindful that some people in attendance came from out of state “to pay their respect to veterans and to honor them.” He said it was extremely rewarding to see so many young people coming out to honor the town’s veterans.
“This memorial will keep that going from generation to generation,” Crighton said.
Jones, Jr. said it’s important to not forget our servicemen and women.
“It’s because of the many sacrifices of our veterans and their willingness to serve that America continues to offer a beacon of hope for people around the world,” he said. “Today we can see the result of countless hours of volunteer work – a true labor of love. It is an inspiring, impressive, and moving memorial to Lynnfield’s veterans.”
Director of Veterans Services Bruce Siegel offered “kudos” to the memorial committee for their contributions in making the project which was “years in the making” a reality. He said the memorial will be a place of “respite and reflection for years to come. Our nation owes a debt to our veterans, a debt we can never repay. On Veterans Day, we dedicate ourselves to accomplishing just that.”
Connell summed it all up.
“Whether you’re related to someone whose name is placed here in granite or not; you can share in the kinship of being an American citizen. We are surrounded by the spirits of those who have served our country; those who have sacrificed so much for the freedom we enjoy here on this day,” he said.
