South Boston gathered in a pre-Memorial Day ceremony Sunday, finishing up an annual custom of remembering and reminding the group to honor the fallen.
“This is a special day for us veterans, because it’s the day of remembrance,” stated Tom McCarthy, commander of the Thomas J. Fitzgerald VFW Publish and grasp of ceremonies for Sunday’s occasion. “We all know the sacrifice the departed made for us and to remember them is an obligation that we as veterans feel. This day means a lot to us and to be able to share it with the neighborhood and make people aware of what this day means means a lot to us veterans.”
Neighborhood members, elected officers and veterans gathered on the Thomas J. Fitzgerald VFW Publish 561 at 9 a.m. Sunday to start the ceremony.
At 9:30 a.m., the group marched collectively to the Medal of Honor Park for a wreath laying ceremony on the South Boston Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
An necessary a part of Memorial Day, McCarthy stated, is “helping teach people with what this day means.” Sunday introduced new and previous members of the South Boston group collectively to just do that, he stated.
“There are people who live in the community, who want to be with us,” stated McCarthy. “We have a veteran who is 103 years olde. Her name’s Olivia, and she unfortunately deals with loss of memory. But to have her there joining us — she’s from the South Boston community — it’s a very emotional thing to thank her.”
The gathering Sunday was a reminder of veterans like Olivia nonetheless residing among the many group, in addition to recollections of those that’ve died, the commander stated.
The veterans’ neighborhood group is ready to assemble once more for a South Boston Vietnam Veterans day in September and once more for Veterans Day, McCarthy stated.
“It was a good day,” McCarthy stated, remarking on the turnout Sunday. … “We’re happy that the people in community see us and appreciate what we did.”
Boston’s Memorial Day ceremonies will proceed Sunday as town Division of Veterans Service and native organizations place flags at army ceremonies and households collect within the Boston Widespread’s annual flag backyard Monday.
