SWAMPSCOTT — The War Memorial Scholarship Fund Committee held its dedication of the new brick memorial installation on Saturday morning outside Town Hall, where community members came to see the bricks they bought from its Buy a Brick fundraiser.
Vice Chair Jody Watts said the fundraiser has yielded $12,932 from residents who pitched in and purchased customized bricks. The memorial was installed under the Elihu Thomson Administration Building sign.
Chair Susan Bishop said she thought the fundraiser was a great success, and that “it will help sustain the scholarship for Swampscott High School students.”
Committee member Duncan Maitland, who was the first to speak, welcomed the audience and explained some background on the fundraiser. He also spoke about the committee’s work to award scholarships to students.
“The bricks are being sold to raise money for the Swampscott War Memorial Scholarship Fund… Presently, two $3,000 scholarships are awarded to Swampscott High School seniors each year… On March 26, 1950, Town Meeting established a $10,000 scholarship fund as a perpetual memorial to those who served in the military, defending our freedom,” Maitland said.
He continued, saying that the first scholarship of $250 was awarded in 1951. Maitland noted that several years later, in 1964, Town Meeting appropriated an additional $10,000 for the scholarship fund.
“Today, Swampscott High School seniors have been awarded scholarships totaling more than $170,000 from this fund,” Maitland said.
Maitland stressed the need to recognize Gino Cresta, director of the Department of Public Works, and his crew for the help installing the memorial.
Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1240 Quartermaster Dave Emerton emphasized that “any aid provided by groups like the War Memorial Scholarship Fund is badly needed, and I commend their work.”
David Siskind, who bought a brick for his uncle, said, “My uncle, Bernard Lipsky, graduated from Swampscott High School and got admitted to Boston University, but he enlisted in the Army Air Corps back in the 1940s. He completed 42 missions as a bombardier… In those days, if you flew 25 missions, you were relieved from further combat duty.
“Even though he was relieved from further combat duty, he volunteered to go over to Europe to fight the Germans. On Nov. 9, 1944, he was killed when his plane crashed with four crewmates… He got the Purple Heart, and we’re all very proud relatives of the sacrifices he made for Swampscott, Lynn, the country, and for freedom.”
Robert Ingram, who purchased a brick for his late wife, Maureen, said she was a beloved teacher who loved her students and that she was also loved by them.
Watts said, “I’m so happy for a great turnout today and to see the people that came. They were touched by the bricks, and I think it was a wonderful day.” She added the committee is still taking orders for bricks.
