Town honors fallen in annual Memorial Day ceremony
By Mary Ann Price
Congressman Stephen Lynch presents a flag that flew over the U.S. Capitol in honor of Canton’s Memorial Day ceremony. (L-R) Rep. Lynch, Master of Ceremonies Frank LaBollita, Legion commander Fred Gladstone and Veterans Agent Tony Andreotti. (Michelle Stark photo)
The 2014 Memorial Day ceremony at the Canton Corner Cemetery was a combination of remembrance for the sacrifices of America’s servicemen and women and hope that veterans across the country will receive the services they need when they return home from a tour of duty. The Department of Veterans Affairs has been criticized in recent weeks for alleged delays in the diagnosis and treatment of veterans, leading to dozens of deaths.
In his remarks, Congressman Stephen Lynch spoke of men and women who put on a uniform for a greater cause and the debt that is owed them. “It is a debt that can never truly be repaid, but we can try,” he said.
Following the allegations of prolonged wait times for appointments for veterans at the Phoenix VA, Lynch said that he, along with state Representative William Galvin and Canton Veterans Agent Tony Andreotti, asked that two investigative teams look at local VA medical facilities.
“The preliminary results have been very good,” Lynch said, with suggestions of excellence and best practices, and the identification of a need to increase efforts to meet veterans’ requests for dermatology and mental health services. An information session has been set up for Thursday, June 5, for veterans agents from around the state at the VA Hospital in West Roxbury, which Andreotti will attend.
Retired Massachusetts Army National Guard Colonel Frank LaBollita opened the ceremony by introducing the guests and speakers. Vietnam Marine Corps veteran Terry Leonard served as grand marshal of the parade.
Commander Fred Gladstone of the American Legion Edward J. Beatty Post 24 placed a wreath at the flagpole and asked for a moment of silence for troops serving around the world. Reverend Michael F. McLellan, pastor of St. John the Evangelist Church, offered an invocation in which he asked those present to think of what the world would have been like if nobody had stepped up to fight slavery, Nazism, or terrorism.
LaBollita and Gladstone called the role of fallen heroes, followed by a salute, the raising of the flag, a gun salute, and Taps. “In 11 days, our nation will pause to remember an event that happened 70 years ago,” LaBollita said, referring to the Normandy landings on D-Day, before recognizing the World War II veterans who were present.
In addition to offering words of remembrance, speakers encouraged guests to take the time to be grateful to veterans and their families. “Today we remember the courageous individuals who helped countless citizens of nations around the world,” Galvin said.
Selectman Victor Del Vecchio said that while war is something far away for many of us, “Keep in mind the families who lost someone.”
Andreotti spoke of how having the Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall brought to Canton in 2005 helped veterans of that war to open up about their experiences. They asked Andreotti to honor vets who did not die in combat but rather from Agent Orange. There is now a bench with plaques at the cemetery to honor the 12 servicemen between the ages of 50 and 67 who lost their lives because of exposure to Agent Orange. Donna LaCivita, the widow of Vietnam veteran Kevin LaCivita, received flowers and a photo of the bench from Andreotti in memory of her late husband.
Eighth graders Jenny Wolicki, Emma Mouradian, Joe Barry, Amanda Romano, Riley Brown, Daniel Durham, Megan Aherne, Shreyas Risbud, and Margaret Polsgrove, students of Elaine McCarthy at the Galvin Middle School, read poems and essays in honor of veterans and their sacrifices.
The representatives for Boys and Girls State were also announced during the ceremony. Shane Ezepik and Sebastian Kupchanis will represent Canton High School at Boys State, while classmates Eileen Khoury, Grace Barrera, Erin Proctor, Sarah Sesito, Meghan Peters, Ariana Sanusi and Jennifer Dever will attend Girls State. Both programs, designed to help educate young people about government, will be held at Stonehill College.
Short URL: https://www.thecantoncitizen.com/?p=25561
Posted by Mary Ann Price
on May 29 2014. Filed under News, Town Government.
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