Town honors fallen heroes on Memorial Day
By Mary Ann Price
Peter Pineo drives veterans in the hay wagon. (Mary Ellen Cahill photo)
American Legion Post 24 Commander Terry Leonard started the Memorial Day ceremonies at the Canton Corner Cemetery Monday morning by hanging a wreath on the flagpole at the Walk of Honor. Veterans Agent Tony Andreotti, who emceed the ceremony, followed with a paraphrase of a quote by President John F. Kennedy: “A community reveals itself not only by the men and women it produces, but also by the men and women it honors.”
The annual ceremony also featured a roll call of the 77 members of the Canton community who sacrificed their lives for their country. Andreotti called the names of the servicemen and women who left the town and did not return, beginning with the Civil War and ending with the war in Iraq.
Andreotti also took a moment to salute Canton’s first responders who took part in helping victims during the Boston Marathon bombings and the days afterward. He gestured toward a group wearing dark pants and matching red shirts, saying, “What a marvelous job they did on Patriot’s Day.”
Reverend Michael F. McLellan, pastor of St. John the Evangelist Church, urged the hundreds of people present on the sunny day to remember those brave men. “Let us never forget and never fail to be grateful,” he said.
State Senator Brian Joyce, state Representative William Galvin, and Canton Selectman Sal Salvatori spoke of the importance of remembering those who have died and the need to help their family members. Joyce singled out Andreotti for his service to the town and its veterans, noting that he “may be the single best veterans agent in the commonwealth.”
Retired Massachusetts Army National Guard Colonel Frank LaBollita was the guest speaker. He told the crowd of the history of Memorial Day, which began in the 1800s as Decoration Day, a day during which people decorated the graves of soldiers lost in the Civil War.
Galvin Middle School eighth graders Katherine Pineo, Amanda Folan, Sarah Campbell, Nicole Mason, Kerry Flavin, Renee Semple, Dasol Lee and Charlie Ernhardt from Elaine McCarthy’s class read poems and essays about freedom.
Michelle Mogan, president of the American Legion Auxiliary, introduced the Girls State winners from Canton High School: Kaitlyn Kelleher, Shannon Proctor, Caitlyn Feeney, Emily Lovett, Natalie Rossi, and Michaela Kelly. Andreotti presented the Boys State winners from CHS: Joe Clancy and Daniel Guan. He also introduced World War II veteran Tony Pavidis II as this year’s grand marshal.
The program closed with veteran Tom Jenkins reciting the Gettysburg Address from memory and a second prayer from Father McLellan.
Salvatori acknowledged the year-round efforts of Jim Penza, Tony Pinheiro, and the rest of the Department of Public Works for their continued maintenance of the cemetery grounds.
Short URL: https://www.thecantoncitizen.com/?p=20780
Posted by Mary Ann Price
on May 30 2013. Filed under News.
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