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Write Ahead, Wellesley

Wellesley holding Veterans Day ceremony

November 9, 2022 by Bob Brown Leave a Comment

Wellesley will honor all Veterans on Friday, Nov. 11 with a ceremony outdoors at the War Memorial in front of Town Hall along Washington Street (the event will will indoors to the Great Hall if there’s inclement weather).

The annual Veterans Day program will begin at 11 a.m., and all are welcome.

While Town Hall will be open during the program, all departments and offices will be closed for the holiday.

2020 wellesley police veterans day


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Filed Under: Government, Military

Linden Square, Wellesley
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Wellesley’s 9/11 monuments

September 11, 2022 by Bob Brown Leave a Comment

Learn about Wellesley’s 9/11 memorial tree and 9/11 monument and flag.

9/11 tree at Simons Park

firefighter, police monument, near Local

Filed Under: Fire, History, Military, Police

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Wellesley Lacrosse

Memorial Day observed in Wellesley

May 31, 2022 by Deborah Brown 1 Comment

Memorial Day observances in Wellesley took place in front of Town Hall at the War Memorial on Monday evening. The moving ceremony included a recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance, a rifle salute by the Wellesley Police Department, the presentation of the War Memorial scholarship awards, patriotic songs, poetry readings, and more.

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Memorial Day, Wellesley
Army Sergeant Royall Switzler welcomed attendees, and served as presenter for the observances. Switzler from 1991-2000 was a member of the Wellesley Board of Selectmen, as it was then called. He currently serves as a Town Meeting member.

 

Memorial Day, Wellesley
John Dirlam, MassBay history professor and Navy veteran, always brings a fascinating story to mark historical events. He noted that today there are at least 20 towns and villages across the country that claim to be the first to have observed a Memorial Day (or Decoration Day as it used to be called). Recent research, however, indicates that there’s an interesting story about what Yale history professor David W. Blight says was probably was the first Decoration Day. “It involved a group of newly freed slaves in Charleston, South Carolina who had been in charge of doing menial labor at a Confederate prisoner of war camp in Charleston, where the Union soldiers who died there were buried in mass graves,” Dirlam said. “As soon as the war ended, in May of 1865, these recently enslaved people got out, disinterred all the Union dead, from the mass graves, reburied them in their own graves, marked the graves, and then decorated them with flowers. And then to top it off, held an impromptu parade around what had once been a Confederate prisoner of war camp. That we think is probably the first Decoration Day in the United States.”

 

Memorial Day, Wellesley
Rabbi Bleich of Wellesley Weston Chabad, who recently returned from a humanitarian trip to Ukraine where he says he saw firsthand the  horrors of war, delivered the invocation. “As an American, I never had to see those horrors on these shores, and I know that it is because of the sacrifice of young men and women, the American service people, who traveled distant shores and stand strong in defense of our democracy,” Rabbi Bleich said.

 

Memorial Day, Wellesley
Members of the Wellesley Fire Department stand at attention as the Wellesley High School band plays the National Anthem.

 

Memorial Day, Wellesley
State Representative Alice Hanlon Peisch reads a proclamation from Governor Charlie Baker.

 

Memorial Day, Wellesley
Members of the varsity Wellesley High School Cheerleading team read a poem. From left, Caroline Kane, class of 2023; Izzy Graham, class of 2025; and Abby Coleman, class of 2025. Coach Odessa Sanchez, far right, looks on.

Wellesley Memorial Day
Select Board member Beth Sullivan Woods awards the the War Memorial Scholarship to Wellesley High School senior Danielle Cimino, who will attend Plymouth State University. WHS seniors David Macek, who will attend Fordham; and Quinn Wayman, who will attend Miami University in Ohio, were also recipients of the award. The War Memorial Scholarship is intended for an applicant who has an interest in the military or had close relatives who are, or were, veterans.

 

Memorial Day, Wellesley
Army Sergeant Lorelei King recited a poem.

 

Memorial Day, Wellesley
Marine Corp. Sergeant Pete Jones, vice commander of American Legion post 72, reminded the crowd that “…every military headstone has a story to tell.”

 

 

Memorial Day, Wellesley
Gary Woods, Captain, Marines, offered an interesting tidbit to the crowd—May 30th, 2022 marked the 100th anniversary of the dedication of the Lincoln Memorial. “We don’t mourn our loved ones today,” he said, “We celebrate what they gave us.”

 

Memorial Day, Wellesley
Many town leaders were in attendance including all five Select Board members—Tom Ulfelder (chair); Lise Olney (vice chair); Beth Sullivan Woods; Colette Aufranc; and Ann-Mara Lanza.

 

Memorial Day, Wellesley
Memorial Day, Wellesley

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Filed Under: Holidays, Military

Wellesley Friendly Aid

Volunteers needed for Dressing of the Graves in Wellesley

May 17, 2022 by admin Leave a Comment

The Veterans Services department is seeking volunteers to assist with Wellesley Memorial Day preparations. 

On Friday, May 20 at 3:45 p.m. volunteers are needed to help place flags on veterans’ graves at Woodlawn Cemetery (148 Brook Street). Please contact Graves and Ceremonial Officer Joe Oliveri at 774-292-9932 to participate.

“Lest We Forget” Memorial Day Observances

On Monday, May 30 at 7:30 p.m. the Town will hold its annual Memorial Day ceremony outdoors at the Wellesley War Memorial in front of Town Hall. The community is invited to attend and honor the service of our military heroes.

This always moving service includes a recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance, a rifle salute by the Wellesley Police Department, patriotic songs, and more.

MORE:

Meet Wellesley’s Veterans’ Graves and Ceremonial Officer

Filed Under: Military, Obituaries & remembrances, Volunteering

Veterans Day observances in Wellesley

November 9, 2021 by admin Leave a Comment

veterans day ken johnson

Wellesley will honor its Veterans on Thursday, Nov. 11 at  11a.m. with observances in front of Town Hall.

This year’s event will take place on the lawn in front of the Wellesley War Memorial along Washington Street. If it rains, the event will be moved into the Great Hall of Town Hall.

Observances will include recognizing retired military personnel, guest speakers from local colleges, Wellesley Police and Fire Department honor guards, members of the American Legion Post 72, as well as a prisoner of war ceremony and retiring of the flag.

The community is invited to attend this event and support all veterans.

Please note: Wellesley municipal buildings and departments, including the Recycling and Disposal Facility, are closed on Veterans Day.


Wellesley Council on Aging to host viewing of documentary “D-Day Veterans Return to Normandy 75 Years Later”

Wednesday, Nov. 10, 10am, Tolles Parsons Center, 500 Washington St.

This film commemorates the 75th Anniversary of the D-Day Invasion of Normandy, France. After a year of raising funds and finding D-Day veterans who could muster the strength to travel, this was filmed in June 2019 on the sacred beaches of Normandy. We look forward to sharing this documentary with all of you. A film that reveres those heroes — some from a different land who gave their lives — but to remember those who were lucky enough to live through it all. It also is to honor those French residents of the first generation, who lost their lives in the Invasion and those who survived and carried on the spirit year after year. The second generation has been taught by their parents to never forget the sacrifices that were made. The veterans who visit Normandy over the years can attest to the hospitality of these caring and loving people.

You can sign-up for this special showing by: (1) emailing the Council on Aging here; by calling (781) 235-3961; or by stopping by in-person. 

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Filed Under: Government, Military

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Rick Cram, leader

Wellesley 9/11 ceremony marks 20th anniversary

September 11, 2021 by Deborah Brown Leave a Comment

On the 20th anniversary of the September 11th attacks, observances were held at the Wellesley Hills Fire Department Headquarters to honor and remember the 2,977 civilians and first responders who died on that day.

Addressing a crowd of about 80 Wellesley residents, first responders, and town officials, Select Board Chair Tom Ulfelder said, “Today marks the anniversary of the most lethal attack on American soil, when nineteen terrorists from half a world away hijacked four commercial aircraft and turned them into weapons that rained death on New York City, the Pentagon, and a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. That terrible day brought changes large and small that effect every facet of American life. Seventy million people living in the United States had not yet been born on September 11, 2001, but there are many living now who are haunted by memories that stalk them in unguarded moments.”

Wellesley residents who lost their lives in the attacks were named: Neilie Casey; Edmund Glaser; Patrick Quigley; and John Cahill.

Select Board members Lise Olney, Beth Sullivan Woods, Tom Ulfelder, and Colette Aufranc also were in attendance at the ceremony.

(We’ll add a link to Wellesley Media’s recording when it’s available.)

2021 911 wellesley fire
Fire Chief Rick DeLorie got the somber ceremony underway, introduced each speaker, and provided context and the history of the events of 9/11/2001.

 

2021 9/11 ceremony
Father Jim Laughlin of the St. John – St. Paul Catholic Collaborative delivered the invocation.

 

2021 9/11 ceremony
Kim Shaw, Coast Guard Auxiliary, played “Taps” on the bugle.

 

2021 9/11 ceremony
Wellesley Deputy Police Chief Scott Whittemore read the “Police Officers Prayer.”
9/11 Wellesley, 2021
Pete Jones, Board member of the Wellesley Conservation Council, Town Meeting member, and Marine Corp. veteran, prefaced a recitation of a “Prayer for All in the Service of Our Country” by noting that 9/11 is “…a day of remembrance for those who performed selfless acts to save others they did not know.”

 

2021 9/11 ceremony
The September 11 remembrances took place on a sunny, cloudless day, reminiscent of the weather in 2001, with temperatures in the high 60s.

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Filed Under: Fire, History, Military, Police

At ease, Wellesley RDF soldier, and thank you for your service

June 29, 2021 by Deborah Brown 1 Comment

We always enjoy our adventures to the Wellesley Recycling and Disposal  Facility (RDF) because we never  know what we might find. During a recent foray we noticed something unusual not at the treasure trove that is the Reusables Area, but over at the construction debris pile. There, standing at attention, was a 3-ft. tall statue of a U.S. soldier in combat uniform. The base of the statue reads, “Honor and  Bravery.”

The polyresin-constructed military man was much the worse for the wear, and it seemed obvious that the RDF was his last stop. A online search showed that such statues are easily available in the $100 – $150 range. We imagine this soldier stood proudly out in the elements for a long time before he finally got to the RDF.

At ease, soldier, and thank you for your service.

Wellesley RDF find, Army man
Wellesley RDF find, military man

 

Wellesley RDF find, military man
The base of the statue reads “Honor and Bravery.”

Although the next pic isn’t a dump find, in keeping with the military theme of this post, I’ll share that below are the spent shells from dad’s military funeral seven years ago. A standard part of any military funeral is the ceremonial shooting of three volleys in honor of the deceased. The spent shell casings are then presented to the family.

One year on dad’s birthday Mr. Swellesley and I went out to dinner, and my fortune cookie said, “Courage comes through suffering.” I don’t typically believe in messages from beyond, but this fortune was so accurate that there was no tossing it out with the leftover lo mein. There was only one place for these words—on display with our family’s final reminders that service to country can bring lifelong challenges.

Army shells

Filed Under: Dump, Military

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