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Town pays tribute to its Korean
War vets
By Kathy Anderson
Citizen Staff
Many call it
“the forgotten war.” Some call it a “police action” — after all,
Congress never officially declared war on North Korea. But the
devastation, the wounded, the dead and the missing soldiers, the
heartbreak and combat signify the horrors of war, and for the
United States soldiers who joined forces with South Korea, it
was a war that should never vanish from memory.
Last
Wednesday, November 11, on Veterans’ Day, Canton’s veterans
agent Tony Andreotti, along with dozens of veterans and local
dignitaries, held a ceremony at Canton High School so the legacy
of the heroes of that “forgotten war” will forever be remembered
by future generations. Over 500 attended the event, including
veterans, their families, friends, students and media.
Keynote
speaker for the event, Captain Thomas J. Hudner, Jr., U.S. Navy
(Ret.), delivered an address that was poignant and sobering,
honoring the sacrifices made on that distant, Asian peninsula
from 1950 to 1953.
“We join here
today as one people to appreciate a debt that we can never
repay,” Hudner said. “This day belongs to all who protected our
land, our lives and our countries, and we also honor those who
are still missing to this day. As we remember those men who
fought in Korea we must never forget those who were never
accounted for. Their sacrifice should be in our hearts every
day.”
Hudner is a
Korean War hero from Fall River who crash landed his own plane
to rescue a fellow pilot who crossed enemy lines under fire. He
is a recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor, and although
he currently resides in Concord, he has many relatives in
Canton.
“I had the
pleasure of working with Tony Andreotti when I was commissioner
of veterans’ services,” Hudner said. “I am very proud of my
association with him and it is a privilege to talk to groups
who’ve made this country the best.”
Retired
Colonel Frank LaBollita of Canton opened the ceremony and
introduced the program, the roll calls of each military branch,
the gifts presented to the veterans by the Boy Scouts and
welcomed the Galvin Middle School band and chorus, who performed
several patriotic and 1950s-era musical numbers.
Father Michael
McLellan of St. John the Evangelist Church gave the invocation
after the Presentation of Colors by the Council Honor Guard and
the Pledge of Allegiance.
“I would be
remiss if I did not thank Tony Andreotti,” said U.S. Congressman
Stephen Lynch as he addressed the audience. “Tony is one of the
very best veterans agents not only in my district but in the
entire country. With his act of remembrance organizing this
ceremony I congratulate him and the town of Canton for
recognizing military service and patriotism. I thank the
veterans here today for their power of example to our young
people serving today.”
Board of
Selectman Chairman Sal Salvatori spoke of the research he
undertook to illustrate the changes in South Korean society from
1950 to the present.
“The seeds of
democracy were planted back then,” he said, “and I discovered
that before the war 63 percent of South Korea’s principal
industries were agricultural and fishing.” He noted that today
75 percent of South Korea is in the forefront of technology,
manufacturing, culture, economic sustainability, and by hosting
the 1988 summer Olympics, the country exemplified its evolution
through the past half-century from a poor rural country to one
blessed with freedom and well deserved basic human rights.
“The quality
of life in South Korea is like night and day with North Korea,”
he said, adding that despite the breakup of the Soviet Union,
North Korea continues to be a militant communist dictatorship.
“Today we are
being asked to continue to fight insurgents half way around the
world who have no respect for the rules of war,” Hudner
concluded. “Let’s resolve not to stray from our responsibility
and to also honor the service made by the most talented and best
prepared men and women who have ever worn our nation’s uniforms.
We owe it to them to never be forgotten.”
At the
conclusion of the ceremony, personally inscribed mugs were
presented to the following honored Korean War veterans:
Peter A.
Aledda, Daniel S. Alonardo, Tony Andreotti, Francis D. Arnao,
Lowell A. Ascher, Patricia A. Ascher, Charles R. Ayer, Robert W.
Bandera, Robert C. Barry, Frank Berardi, Harry S. Bernstein,
Ambrose H. Bonanno, Nicholas T. Boufides, William E. Boushell.
Richard F. Bracchi, Benjamin Brenner, Stephen W. Brigandi, Alan
R. Brooks, Walter L. Brown, Domenic Bruno, George J. Buttrick,
Guido Cafasso, Eugene Calibani, Thomas E. Callahan, John J.
Callahan Jr., Peter S. Capernaros, Edwin S. Caplan, Leonard
Carroll, William Carroll, Franklin F. Carroll, John F. Carroll
Jr., Gordon Cereno, Nihil E. Clark, Paul J. Cleary, Ronald
Conlon, Henry E. Cook, Robert G. Corraro, Michael F. Coyle,
Robert E. Crimmins, Michael P. Curran, Paul J. Curran, Paul W.
D’Amico, James J. d’Entremont, Donald S. DaSilva, Romolo P.
DeBaggis Jr, Richard D. DeLello, Joseph W. Desjardins, Benson
Diamond, William H. Dillon, Nunzio S. Fama, George R. Feeley,
Robert F. Findlen, Lester C. Fleishman, Warren Foreman, Anthony
R. Franco, John J. Friel, Gerald B. Gallagher, Alfred F.
Giannelli, Wallace F. Gibbs, Brewster J. Gifford, Anthony J.
Gildea, Edward P. Gilmore, Ronald M. Glaser, Robert V. Goodman,
James T. Griffin, John J. Halloran, Edwin H. Hammond, Harold J.
Hanlon, Charles E. Harding, Paul W. Healy, Leo M. Heaney,
Francis C. Hellmuth, Thomas J. Hudner Jr., Carl M. Jackson,
Thomas J. Jenkins, Robert D. Johnson, Donald J. Keefe, Donald
Kenyon, James J. Kilgallon, John F. Kilroy, Theodore J. LaBelle
Jr, Frank J. Lamparelli, Joseph F. Landrigan Jr., Paul F.
Leonard, Leon Leoni, William Lester, Theodore Liftman, Edward
Locke, Arthur F. Long, Arline F. Love, Edward N. Lukaszewicz,
Dave Lynch, John J. Lyons, Robert P. Lyons, James A. MacDonald,
John J. Madden, James R. Magee, Harvey S. Malin, George Manoles,
James V. Marano Sr., Walter J. Marino, Robert E. Mason, John A.
Matanes, Anthony J. Matroni, Joseph W. Matroni, Norman F. McCart,
John T. McCarthy, William J. McDaid, John G. McDonough, Charles
F. McGrath, Walter W. McKay, Michael Meltzer, Robert J. Millen,
Stanley Miller, Walter A. Molis, Charles E. Moore, William E.
Moore, John P. Moran, Pat Morgan, Robert P. Morrison, John J.
Nelson, Byron K. O’Donnell, Harry J. Perreault, Edward M.
Phelan, Edward R. Piana, Donald A. Podgurski, Ronald Pozzo,
Francis T. Prendergast, Edward V. Puopolo, Joseph S.
Remiesiewicz, William O. Riordan, Donald E. Rodman, Stanley M.
Ross, Gerald E. Rosser, Peter R. Sarra, Paul R. Seery, Robert F.
Sefton, Leonard G. Segal, David L. Shannon, Richard A. Simons,
George O. Slater, Nathan Slawsby, Gerald D. Spigel, Charles F.
Steffy, John A. Steigner, Walter L. Storkus, John Strumski, John
A. Stuart, Joseph T. Sullivan, Edward M. Sullivan, Dr. Harold W.
Tate Jr., Henry Teague, Joseph E. Tetrault Jr, William J.
Thibeault, Joseph P. Thornton, Eunice Lee Turner, Joseph P.
Uliano, Francis Leo Walsh, Robert E. Walsh Jr, Walter T. Wedge,
Frank J. Weiner, Edward E. Widberg, Karl Woessner, Robert A.
Wood, Ben J. Wornum
(Above l-r) The Carroll Brothers:
William (Army), Franklin (Air Force) and Len (Air Force)
Master of
Ceremonies Retired Colonel Frank LaBollita
Father
Michael McLellan of St. John’s Church gives the invocation.
November 19, 2009
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