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This article was published 6 months ago
A crowd fills in around the new Veterans Memorial for the dedication ceremony on Veterans Day. (Spenser Hasak) Purchase this photo

Lynnfield dedicates new Veterans Memorial

Anne Marie Tobin

November 11, 2024 by Anne Marie Tobin

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. 

Vice Admiral William Merz, left, and Col. Joe Connell salute the flag during the playing of the National Anthem during Lynnfield’s Veterans Memorial unveiling ceremony on Veterans Day.

“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 Essex County Sheriff’s Department Color Guard retires the colors during the unveiling ceremony for the new Veterans Memorial in Lynnfield on Veterans Day.
The Girl Scouts recite the Pledge of Allegiance during the Veterans Memorial ceremony.

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.” 

Lynnfield Director of Veterans Services Bruce Siegel wears a tie to match his pin during the Veterans Memorial ceremony on Veterans Day.

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.

Col. Joe Connell salutes the flag as the National Anthem is played during Lynnfield’s Veterans Memorial unveiling ceremony on Veterans Day.
A U.S. Navy veteran waves to the crowd as he stands to be honored during the Lynnfield Veterans Day ceremony.
A U.S. Army Maj. Jim Papagni looks up at his son as from the different branches of the military are played during the Veterans Memorial dedication ceremony in Lynnfield on Veterans Day.
A U.S. Army veteran salutes the flag as the National Anthem is played during Lynnfield’s Veterans Memorial unveiling ceremony on Veterans Day.
The Lynnfield Pioneer Singers perform “America the Beautiful,” during the Veterans Memorial dedication ceremony on Veterans Day.
Tony Tropeano, center, is presented the Daniel Townsend Award for Excellence by Select Board Chair Dick Dalton and Col. Joseph Connell for the work he and his team put into building the town’s new Veterans Memorial.
Lynnfield High School senior Matthew Squadrito gives a brief history of the Revolutionary War during the Veterans Memorial dedication ceremony in Lynnfield on Veterans Day.
  • Anne Marie Tobin
    Anne Marie Tobin

    Anne Marie Tobin is a sports reporter for the Item and sports editor of the Lynnfield and weeklies. She also serves as the associate editor of North Shore Golf magazine. Anne Marie joined the Weekly News staff in 2014 and Essex Media Group in 2016. A seven-time Massachusetts state amateur women’s golf champion and member of the Massachusetts Golf Association Hall of Fame, Tobin is graduate of Mount Holyoke College and Suffolk University Law School. She practiced law for 30 years before becoming a sports reporter. Follow her on Twitter at: @WeeklyNewsNow.

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