Wellesley Media has posted its recording of Wellesley’s Memorial Day ceremony from the annual day of remembrance on May 30.
Holidays
Wellesley Wonderful Weekend
Reenactors portray life in the Royal Irish Artillery—in the middle of Wellesley
On both Saturday and Sunday, an interactive, 18th-century living history reenactment ran as part of Wellesley Wonderful Weekend. Re-enactors and historical interpreters assembled a military camp with careful attention to detail, pitching cream-colored tents into the dirt, watching a campfire crackle the scent of ash, and interacting with visitors as if they’d lived and experienced the lives of members of the British Army.
This took place at Morton Park Field, by the police department. Visitors wandered through the encampment slowly, able to read and appreciate recreated documents. These documents focused on culture and traditions, such as the types of teas under tax, the lives of “Camp Followers”, or the function and use of an Infant Bottle. Others highlighted more practical realities, for example, the duties and use of cavalry.
The event spotlighted the Royal Irish Artillery, a British regiment established during the American Revolutionary War. Despite its name, many of the regiment’s soldiers never actually served in Ireland. Instead, the unit was created by the British Army in 1777 to strengthen artillery forces fighting in North America during the Revolution.
Interpreters also demonstrated the complexity of 18th-century artillery work. Units such as the Royal Irish Artillery were regarded as highly skilled because firing a cannon accurately required mathematics and precise coordination. Preparing a single shot could take several minutes, with every crew member having specific responsibility.
In Wellesley, the cannon was shot a total of three times on Saturday: 12:30 PM, 1:30 PM, and 2:30 PM, allowing for a fun visual display alongside the encampment.
Throughout the weekend, visitors explored the grounds, examined antique artillery and weaponry up close, and spoke directly with interpreters about the realities of military and civilian life during the Revolutionary era. The demonstrations and conversations worked together, resulting in visitors earning a clear sense of the discipline and daily realities of Revolutionary-era military life.
Volunteers needed for Dressing of the Graves in Wellesley
The Veterans Services department is seeking volunteers to help place American flags on Veteran graves in Wellesley in preparation for Memorial Day.
The annual Dressing of the Graves event recognizes the bravery and sacrifice of departed individuals who served our country.
Dressing of the Graves will take place Thursday, May 7, 3pm, at Woodlawn Cemetery, 148 Brook Street. Volunteers should meet at the flag pole. Supplies are provided by the West Suburban Veterans District. No registration required.
2025 Veterans Day observances include keynote by Wellesley resident and TOPGUN graduate
On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, Wellesley paused to honor the sacrifice and service of its veterans, drawing the community together for the annual Veterans Day ceremony. This year’s tribute, set against the solemn backdrop of the War Memorial at Wellesley Town Hall, included a particularly compelling keynote address from a local hero whose service epitomized modern air combat.
A crowd of about 100 heard from Wellesley resident Lieutenant Commander Tavish Gould, a former U.S. Navy fighter pilot, TOPGUN graduate, and F-35 Pilot of the Year, who led critical combat missions across the Middle East. Gould said what he envisioned after his time in the service was becoming “a normal civilian with a peaceful Wellesley life.” Although the married father of two has checked off that box, another box only recently appeared on Gould’s radar—that of veteran speaker.
“I certainly did not expect to be standing here, speaking at a Veterans Day ceremony,” he said. “I’m here because service changes you. It shapes who you are long after you hang up the uniform. It becomes a part of your identity forever.”
From the traditional tolling of the bell to additional remarks by fellow veterans, and the Pledge of Allegiance led by local Girl Scouts, the ceremony provided a moment to stand with—and salute—the men and women who have protected our freedoms.
The temperatures were bone-chilling, but emcee Sgt. Pete Jones (Marine Corps veteran) wouldn’t hear of moving the ceremony inside to Town Hall on the grounds that it was not raining.
Some traditions are meant to be carried out properly, never mind a little discomfort. The Veterans Day ceremony is one of them, as long as Pete, the Wellesley Celebrations Committee, and American Legion Post 72 have anything to say about it.
Wellesley resident and Army veteran Hank Solomon said he was in attendance at the Wellesley ceremony for the first time. “I want to honor my compatriots. I was inspired by the keynote speaker.”
Active duty Marine Corp. member Captain Brendan Connors, a 2015 Wellesley High School graduate, attended as well. His career has included three years stationed in mainland Japan, and he currently teaches ROTC undergrads at several Boston-area universities. He will complete seven years of service in 2026, after which Connors expects to enter the private sector.
Other participants at the event included Rev. Adrian Robbins-Cole from St. Andrews Episcopal Church; the Wellesley Police and Fire Departments Honor Guard; Wellesley High School vocalist Colin Graves and bugler Oscar Cortis; Wellesley Middle School teacher (US Navy veteran) Ken Johnson; MassBay history professor (US Navy veteran) John Dirlam; Lorelei King (US Army veteran); Representative Alice Peisch; several Select Board members and town officials.
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Wellesley’s Gopal takes his academic & baseball talents to the U.S. Naval Academy
By Jason Glick
Sachin Gopal’s path to the U.S. Naval Academy, where the Wellesley teen this year will continue his education and play Division I baseball, was anything but predictable. But reflecting on his childhood, there were hints that he might someday arrive at this point.
His parents say “Top Gun” and “Pearl Harbor” were among their son’s favorite movies as a kid, leading to his early insistence on one day becoming a fighter pilot.
Such far-off career plans faded into the background naturally enough, however, as a young Gopal turned his attention to baseball, a sport he excelled at from the start.
California baseball
Gopal was never the biggest or strongest kid on the diamond growing up in California. In sixth grade, he weighed less than 100 pounds. It took an important conversation with a childhood coach, John Elliott, to change his baseball focus.
During a tournament in Arizona, Elliott told Sachin and his father, Mani, to sit down for a chat. With the prospect of pursuing baseball at a higher level now locked tightly in Sachin’s mind, Mani recalls Elliott saying, “One, you need to put on weight and become stronger. Two, you need to get good grades.”
Gopal already had talent, exposure and a passion for baseball. He made his first travel team at seven years old, and living in California made it easy to fall in love with baseball.
“In southern California, because of the weather, you play your sport year-round to specialize at a really young age,” Gopal said. “So, unlike Massachusetts, where it’s snowing and four degrees in the winter, it’s 60 degrees in February there, so you’ll still have tournaments.”
Moving to Wellesley
Gopal was 11 years old when he and his family moved to Wellesley, and he continued to play ball. He enrolled at Wellesley High School in 2020 and joined the Raiders.
At the Legends Baseball Scout Day in February 2021, the undersized Gopal stood out among 34 arms, which included sophomores and juniors. His changeup range (71-72 mph) led the pack. He also finished top five in curveball range (63-66) and top four in both fastball range (78-79) and maximum fastball speed (79).
During his sophomore year, the right-hander began growing taller. He started working on his body and following through with coach Elliot’s advice. He frequently went to Parsons Sports Performance, where he worked with CJ Parsons on differentiating power from strength.
“We started focusing on more explosive movements like moving heavy weight quickly because baseball is such a quick sport. If you look at a pitching motion, it takes two seconds,” Gopal detailed. “We focused a lot on power instead of strength, because there is a core difference that not a lot of people know. We were focusing more on power, which immediately made the biggest difference in not only my hitting but my pitching.”
Gopal weighed 160 pounds by his sophomore year. His fastball reached 83 miles per hour at the 2022 Southern New England Preseason All-State event, which he received a selective invite to. Still, something was missing.
While playing for the Wellesley High Raiders, Gopal was seemingly always asked to play catcher, but he really wanted to pitch. Gopal holds, “I really liked pitching because I wanted to be in control of the game. I wanted to have a direct impact on the game. Other positions have an impact, but not everything that they do has an opportunity to change the outcome of the game.”
Switching to Dexter Southfield
After his junior year at Wellesley High School, Gopal made what he calls one of the best decisions of his life. He transferred to Dexter Southfield School, where he would repeat his junior year and join the class of 2025.
Following his first start for the Shield in 2024 vs. juggernaut Phillips Academy, during which Gopal allowed just one earned run over six innings, the high school transfer realized he really did have a shot at playing collegiate ball.
In 11 appearances and 47.1 innings over two seasons on the mound with the Shield, Gopal finished with an impressive 1.77 earned run average, and most satisfying to himself, an undefeated record.
In 2025, Dexter Southfield achieved a 15-2 record and its first ever Central New England Preparatory School Baseball League championship.
Gopal credits his individual success on the mound to guidance from former minor league baseball pitcher Mason Feole in addition to that from Blaise Martinez of Cressey Sports Performance. Gopal would work on pitching technique with Martinez every Wednesday, along with fellow Shield (and later UMass) right-hander Lorcan Lee, and they would always try to one-up each other.
College decision
Before Gopal even took the field for the Shield, he was already being targeted by colleges. His father was anticipating that his son would go to an Ivy League school within driving distance so that he and his wife Suma could watch the games. Their son certainly had the grades to go to such a caliber of school, and he already had discussions with them months earlier.
But in November 2023, Army and Navy both reached out to Gopal about attending their colleges. These offers caught Gopal off guard, as he never thought he was on their radars.
Gopal had an important decision to make. His talent was there. His grades were there. His physical tools were there, as he now stood 6’0” and weighed 175 pounds. Only, his mind was not made up.
But his childhood phases that offered hints of serving the country were rejuvenated and Gopal committed to the Naval Academy on July 2, 2024, just after wrapping up his first year at Dexter Southfield.
“When I put on the [Navy] uniform for the first time, and I saluted the anthem, I’ve never felt like that before,” he reflected..
Gopal is currently at a mandatory Navy boot camp without his phone and with new faces all around.
“I’m obviously focusing on baseball. But my career in the military is equally as important. Even if there is this small chance I do go pro, I still have an obligation to serve my country,” he says. “I still need to become a good leader. I still need to be a person of discipline. I still need to be in the best moral, mental, and physical shape of my life.”
Writer Jason Glick is a rising sophomore at the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University in the Broadcast and Digital Journalism major.
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Wellesley’s Memorial Day observances (video and speech transcript)
Wellesley on Friday held its Memorial Day observances at Woodlawn Cemetery and at the War Memorial in front of Town Hall.
Thank you to Wellesley Media for sharing its recording of the ceremony at the War Memorial, which included a speech by Wellesley resident Todd Bowers, a decorated combat veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps. (Staff Sergeant, retired). We’ve republished his words below.
A Living Remembrance: Honoring Sacrifice Through Community
By Todd Bowers
Good evening, Wellesley. Thank you for gathering here today at our War Memorial, right here in the heart of our town. It means a great deal to see our community – friends, neighbors, families – come together on this beautiful Memorial Day.
My name is Todd Bowers. Like many of you, I call Wellesley home. It’s where my family lives, where we participate in the life of this special town. I’m also a United States Marine Corps Veteran, and I’ve had the privilege, and the burden, of serving multiple combat tours.
Standing here feels… different. You might think facing down insurgents would prepare you for anything, but I confess, addressing my neighbors, the people I see at Fells Market or splashing in Morses Pond, still brings a flutter in my stomach. Honestly, dodging actual bullets sometimes felt less intimidating than potentially boring you all. Perhaps it’s because this – sharing this solemn day with you, in this place – feels incredibly important. It’s a profound honor and I hope to do it justice.
We’re here today, not just to mark the unofficial start of summer or fire up the grill. We’re here to connect with the original, sacred purpose of Memorial Day – initially called Decoration Day – a day born from the immense loss of the Civil War and now dedicated to remembering and honoring all Americans who gave their last full measure of devotion in service to this nation. It’s easy for the deeper meaning to get diluted amidst barbecues and sales, but today, here in Wellesley, we consciously choose to remember why this day exists: to honor those who did not come home.
For a Marine, service is ingrained. It’s built on core values: Honor, Courage, Commitment. These aren’t just words on a poster; they become the foundation of your character, tested in ways you can’t imagine until you’re there. It’s not just a job; it’s a choice, a conscious decision to dedicate yourself to something larger than yourself, to protect the freedoms and values we, as Americans, hold dear – the very freedoms that allow us to gather openly like this today.
In the service, especially deployed in harm’s way, you forge bonds that are hard to explain to those who haven’t lived it. You learn to depend on the Marine to your left, the Marine to your right – your fellow Marines, men and women – with absolute trust. In those moments, under that pressure, none of the differences that might divide us in the civilian world matter – not the color of your skin, not who you love, not how you identify. All that matters is the Marine next to you and the mission. They become your family. You share everything – the fear, the boredom, the laughter, the grief. That intense camaraderie, that shared experience under extreme pressure, is one of the most profound parts of service.
And it’s precisely because those bonds are so strong that the loss cuts so deep. Sacrifice is a word we use often today, but what does it truly mean? It means understanding the very real possibility of not coming home to places like Wellesley, to the tree-lined streets and the familiar faces. It means accepting that you might miss first steps, anniversaries, Linden Store hoagies, holidays, the quiet, everyday moments that make up a life. And that sacrifice isn’t borne solely by the one in uniform. It’s carried by their spouses, their children, their parents – the families who serve and sacrifice right alongside them, often without recognition, facing their own unique struggles when a loved one is lost. They are the often-unrecognized heroes in our communities. While people like me enlist, our families are drafted.
So, on Memorial Day, for veterans like me, the remembering isn’t abstract. It’s specific. It’s personal. Standing here, looking at these names etched on our memorial, it brings back the faces, the names, the voices of friends who didn’t get to come home. We carry them with us. For me, remembrance isn’t just faces and names; sometimes it’s the sharp, visceral memory of specific moments… like during Phantom Fury in Fallujah. There was a moment… I saw a young Iraqi boy who had been shot, lying vulnerable in the open. As I moved to try and reach him, to shield him, a sniper’s bullet found me. By some miracle, I survived it, though others nearby did not. You carry that. The ‘why me?’ The heavy, persistent weight of survival when others, just as brave, just as committed, just as loved, didn’t get that second chance. It’s a question, a feeling, that never fully leaves you. That weight, that question, is part of the remembering too. It fuels the need to honor them, to truly live in a way that respects the chance you were given. I remember Marines I served alongside – men and women of incredible courage, humor, conviction and character – whose journey ended on foreign soil, far from the lives they dreamed of living back here. We pause today, and many of us pause every day, to ‘say their name,’ to tell a story about them, because as long as we speak their name, they are never truly forgotten. It’s how we fight the fear of forgetting; it’s how we keep their legacy alive.
These personal memories, these individual stories of loss, are echoed in countless homes across America. They form the heart of why we gather collectively today, as a town and as a nation.
Our nation formally recognized the need for this collective remembrance after the staggering losses of the Civil War. What began as Decoration Day, a day to tend the graves of fallen soldiers with the choicest flowers of springtime, evolved after the immense sacrifices of World War I. It became a day to honor all Americans who have died in uniform, in every conflict, defending the ideals of this nation. It is a day for solemn pride in their heroism and gratitude for the peace and justice they sought to secure. The holiday changed as our history unfolded, but the fundamental need to remember, to honor the cost of freedom, remains constant.
And here in Wellesley, we embrace this duty with reverence. Our tradition of gathering first at Woodlawn Cemetery and then here at the War Memorial, the reading of the names of Wellesley’s own sons and daughters who perished in service – from the Revolutionary War to the present day – these acts make the national remembrance deeply personal to our community. It shows we understand the distinction. We know how to celebrate our town and honor all veterans, as we do so wonderfully during Wellesley’s Wonderful Weekend festivities and parade. But we also know that today, Memorial Day itself, is different. It is reserved for the solemn act of mourning our fallen, of remembering the cost.
Remembering is essential. But reflection alone is not enough. And here comes the part where I transition from solemn reflection to asking you all to do stuff. Bear with me. President Lincoln, standing on the battlefield at Gettysburg, called not just for remembrance, but for the living to rededicate themselves to the cause for which the soldiers gave their last full measure of devotion. He urged those left behind to ensure that the dead shall not have died in vain. How do we, the living, ensure their sacrifice continues to have meaning today, in our lives, right here in Wellesley?
Many veterans will tell you, while “thank you for your service” is appreciated, genuine, thoughtful actions resonate more deeply. True honor isn’t just spoken; it’s lived. It’s demonstrated in how we treat each other and how we contribute to the community they served to protect. It’s about showing gratitude through deeds, not just words.
So, how can we actively honor their memory right here in our town?
First, embrace service – something Wellesley does so well. They embodied service to the nation. Let’s honor that by serving our community. Volunteer your time – perhaps helping out at the Wellesley Food Pantry, coaching a youth sports team, assisting at the Council on Aging, serving on a town board, or finding another way to give back. When we serve our neighbors here in Wellesley, we are serving in their honor.
Second, practice intentional kindness. Let’s build the kind of community worth defending, the kind of place they dreamed of returning to. Check in on a neighbor who might be lonely or struggling. Offer a hand without being asked. Practice patience in traffic on Route 9 or in the Roche Bros. line. Easier said than done some days, I know, but worth the effort. Small, everyday acts of kindness, consideration, and respect strengthen the fabric of our town and make it a better place to live – a living tribute.
Third, support veterans and their families right here. Remember that sacrifice echoes through generations. Support the families of the fallen – our Gold Star families – who live with the weight of that sacrifice every single day. And support the veterans still among us who carry wounds, both seen and unseen. A listening ear, practical help like shoveling snow for an elderly or disabled veteran neighbor, or supporting organizations dedicated to their care makes a real difference. Honoring the fallen absolutely includes caring for those they fought alongside and those they left behind in our community.
Fourth, engage civically. They defended our way of life, our democracy. Honor them by participating in it. Attend Town Meeting, vote in local and national elections, stay informed about issues facing Wellesley, engage in respectful dialogue even when we disagree. Upholding the democratic values and processes they protected is a vital form of remembrance. But let us be clear: this day, this sacrifice, transcends politics. It must never be used as a political weapon or a tool for division. The men and women we honor today came from all backgrounds, all beliefs. Their shared sacrifice should be a unifying force, reminding us of the common ground we share as Americans. To twist their memory for political gain dishonors the very ideals they fought and died for.
These actions – service, kindness, support, engagement – they are not separate from remembrance. They are remembrance in action. They are how we build a community, a nation, worthy of the immense price paid by those we honor today. They become living memorials, ensuring the legacy of sacrifice inspires goodness and strengthens our shared bonds right here in Wellesley.
Memorial Day grounds us. It reminds us of the true cost of the freedoms we enjoy every single day. It calls us to carry the memory of the fallen not as a burden, but as a guiding light, inspiring us to be better citizens and better neighbors.
Let’s leave this place today not just with solemn thoughts, but with renewed commitment. A commitment to honor sacrifice through service, to strengthen our bonds as neighbors, and to build an even better Wellesley, together. This is how their legacy truly lives on, woven into the fabric of the community they loved and served.
May their sacrifice fuel our dedication to peace, understanding, and the enduring values of this great nation.
Let us never forget the price they paid. Let us cherish the liberty they secured.
May we always honor our fallen heroes and comfort their families. May the community of Wellesley and the United States of America continue to thrive in peace and unity. I can promise you, it’s what they all would have wanted.
Semper Fidelis.
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Memorial Day 2025 closures & observances in Wellesley
Memorial Day weekend will be observed on Friday, May 23 – Monday, May 26.
Memorial Day is an annual, federal holiday to honor those who lost their lives in military service while defending their country.
Wellesley will hold its Memorial Day observances on Friday, May 30, 7:30pm, in front of the War Memorial at Town Hall. All community members, and especially veterans, are invited to attend.
In the event of rain, the ceremony will be moved indoors to Town Hall’s Great Hall.
Important dates
Wellesley municipal buildings and departments will be closed on Monday, May 26 for the Memorial Day holiday.
The Recycling and Disposal Facility (RDF) is also closed. Regular business hours resume on Tuesday, May 27.
Regular business hours resume on Tuesday, May 27. Please check the Town website for specific department hours as open and closed times vary.
Wellesley Town Hall departments will operate on a summer schedule from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Departments will be open 8am-5pm, Monday through Thursday, and will close at noon on Fridays. These hours begin on Friday, May 30 and run through Friday, August 29 (with the exception of Friday, August 1—Town Hall will be open that day until 5pm to receive tax payments).
All Wellesley Free Libraries will be closed Saturday, May 24, through Monday, May 26. Libraries will also be closed on Sundays from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
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57th Annual Wellesley Veterans Parade honorees: Military leaders; Local government volunteers & employees; Beloved businesses & more
The 57th Annual Wellesley Veterans Parade, set to run from 1-3pm from Wellesley Hills to Wellesley Square on Sunday, May 18, will call special attention to 20 people and organizations that have contributed mightily to the town’s character and community.
They will be among the many taking part in the annual parade during Wellesley’s Wonderful Weekend that features school floats, marching bands, colorful characters, and even giant balloons. See the line of march at the end of this post.
Here’s the list of honorees, with bios courtesy of the Wellesley Celebrations Committee:
Grand Marshals
- Lt. Col Michael P. Madon, US Army (Ret)
- Lt. Robert H. Bradley, US Navy (Ret)
- Capt. Brian J. Shortsleeve, US Marines (1995-1999)
Distinguished Service Award
Chiefs of Staff
- LTC Robert H. Fleming –US Army (Ret)
- Col. William F. Sinnott—US Marines (Ret)
- CDR Crystal L. Schaefer –US Navy , Commanding Officer: USS Constitution, ”Old Ironsides
Community Service Awards
Dedicated Service Award
Special Recognition Awards
- Deland Gibson Insurance
- Dover Saddlery
- Café Mangal
- Green’s Hardware
- Isabel Harvey
- The Swellesley Report
- Wellesley/Weston Magazine