A Monumental Achievement

17Nov11

This is how it’s done. If you take on a worthy cause and through persistence and hard work, you create something of value, the public will turn out in droves to support you. Wakefield’s World War II Memorial Committee could teach the “Occupy” organizers a thing or two. About a thousand people packed Veterans’ Memorial […]

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Tags: Daily Item, John Encarnacao, memorial, memorials, monument, monuments, Phyllis Hull, Second World War, soldier, soldiers, veteran, veterans, Wakefield, Wakefield Daily Item, Wakefield Item, Wakefield MA, Wakefield Mass, Wakefield Massachusetts, Wakefield World War II Memorial, World War 2, World War II, World War II Memorial, World War II Monument

A Fitting World War II Monument

15Nov11

A grateful town paid tribute to its veterans on Friday, especially those who fought in World War II, as a huge crowd packed Veterans’ Memorial Common for the unveiling and dedication of the new granite World War II Monument. The Veterans’ Day crowd, which some estimated at more than 1,000, included World War II veterans […]

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Tags: ceremony, Colonel Michael Zarbo, Daily Item, dedication, Donald Wong, Fred Marshal, Gen. Gary Pappas, John Tierney, Katherine Clark, memorial, memorials, military, monument, mounuments, Patrick Glynn, Paul Brodeur, Phyllis Hull, Second World War, Sen. Scott Brown, Senator Scott Brown, soldier, soldiers, veteran, veterans, Wakefield Daily Item, Wakefield Item, Wakefield MA, Wakefield Masachusetts, Wakefield Mass, Wakefield World War II Memorial, World War 2, World War II, World War II Memorial, World War II Monument

Wakefield Police Officer Flew Flag for Wakefield While in Iraq

19Aug11

While Wakefield Police Officer Michael Pietrantonio was deployed last year with the United States Air Force in Iraq, he was very appreciative of the local support he received and the efforts made by the Wakefield Police Department and his fellow WPD officers to stay in touch while he was away serving in the 332nd Expeditionary […]

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Tags: Wakefield, Wakefield Massachusetts, Wakefield MA, veterans, Mark Sardella, Wakefield Daily Item, Wakefield Mass, Wakefield Item, Daily Item, Iraq, Wakefield Police Department, veteran, US Air Force, flag, American Flag, COPS, police, Michael Pietrantonio, police officer, WPD, cop, Iraq War, Air Force United States Air Force, USAF, 332nd Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron, Balad Iraq

Donate a Paver for Veterans’ Day

26Oct10

Memorialize a veteran With Veterans’ Day approaching, Wakefield Selectman John Encarnacao wanted to remind people that they have available to them a unique and permanent way to memorialize the veterans in their family – by contributing for a memorial paver for the “Veterans’ Walk of Remembrance,” which will encircle the new World War II Memorial […]

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Tags: John Encarnacao, monument, paver, pavers, soldier, soldiers, veteran, veterans, Veterans' Day, Wakefield, Wakefield MA, Wakefield Mass, Wakefield Massachusetts, World War 2, World War II, World War II Memorial

Wakefield, Massachusetts Honors Its War Dead

01Jun10

Crowds Turn Out for Memorial Day Observances A bright, sun-filled sky and seasonable temperatures greeted those who attended yesterday morning’s Memorial Day observance at the West Side Social Club and the afternoon ceremonies on Wakefield Common. “Memorial Day is a time to reflect on the sacrifices and service of American soldiers and veterans,” Chief Warrant […]

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Standing Up for the Pledge of Allegiance

22Apr10

A recent incident at Wakefield High School in Massachusetts illustrates just how much our country has changed in just one generation – and not for the better. A few weeks ago, a substitute teacher at Wakefield High School, who is also the father of a soldier who gave his life in Iraq, reprimanded a student […]

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Tags: America, American Flag, flag, Joe Bellavia, Joseph Bellavia, Old Glory, patriotism, Pledge of Allegiance, public schools, Russell Nelson, school, schools, Stars and Stripes, teacher, teachers, United States, United States of America, US, USA, veteran, veterans, Wakefield, Wakefield High School, Wakefield MA, Wakefield Mass, Wakefield Massachusetts

My Father’s World War II Photos

18Feb10

I’ve been thinking about World War II a lot lately. I guess it’s a combination of things. Certainly the ongoing effort to raise the funds to replace the crumbling World War II Monument in my hometown of Wakefield, Massachusetts has served as a consistent reminder. The new granite memorial will be built on the same […]

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World War II Committee Raising Funds

28Dec09

Memorial “pavers” to go on sale They’ve already raised over $25,000 from voluntary donations and the sale of t-shirts and sweatshirts. Now, the World War II Memorial Committee is about to embark on a major fundraising effort that they hope will bring them much closer to their goal of $200,000 – the amount that they […]

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Tags: 2nd World War, Dick Pearson, fundraiser, Jim Murphy, John Encarnacao, pavers, Phyllis Hull, Second World War, soldiers, veterans, Wakefield, Wakefield MA, Wakefield Mass, Wakefield Massachusetts, Walk of Remembrance, war memorial, World War II, World War II Memorial, World War II Memorial Committee, World War II Monument

Honoring Those Who Served

14Nov09

Veterans Day 2009 in Wakefield, Massachusetts As featured speaker at yesterday’s Veterans’ Day exercises, US Army veteran Sam Stella delivered his remarks in an auditorium lined with the photographs of Wakefield soldiers who died in battles fought in distant places long ago. He focused his comments on the roles that United States servicemen and women […]

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Tags: Albert Turco, American Legion, Betsy Sheeran, Galvin Middle School, Gen. John Rogers Galvin, James Good, John Carney, John Encarnacao, Katherine Clark, monument, Patrick Glynn, Paul DiNocco, Sam Stella, soldier, soldiers, US Air Force, US Army, US Marine Corps, US Navy, veteran, veterans, Veterans' Day, Wakefield, Wakefield Choral Society, Wakefield MA, Wakefield Mass, Wakefield Massachusetts, World War II, World War II Memorial

Veterans Deserve Big Turnout on Nov. 11

05Nov09

Next Wednesday, Nov. 11, Wakefield, Massachusetts observes Veterans Day with ceremonies beginning at 11 a.m. in the Galvin Middle School Auditorium. While Memorial Day each spring focuses on honoring deceased veterans, Veterans Day is intended to honor and thank all US military personnel who served in all wars, particularly living veterans and those currently serving […]

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Tags: Air Force, American Legion, Army, Daily Item, Gen. John Galvin, General John Rogers Galvin, Marines, military, Navy, US Air Force, US Army, US Marine Corps, US Navy, veterans, Veterans' Day, Wakefield Daily Item, Wakefield Item, Wakefield MA, Wakefield Wakefield Massachusetts