Around Town

Watertown’s Military Men and Women Honored During Veterans Day Ceremony

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On Friday, Watertown celebrated its servicemen and women, past and present, with breakfast and a Veterans Day ceremony packed with patriotism and a few surprises at the Marine Corps League’s Charles Shutt Detachment. A number of people spoke about the importance of veterans, but the person who stole the show never served in the military and is too young to enlist. Watertown High School junior Jeremy Ornstein delivered a rousing and impassioned reading of an essay he wrote about the importance of Veterans Day. He recalled how as a young child his parents would not allow him to have toy guns, and protected him from some of the harsher parts of life, such as his grandparents experience surviving the Holocaust. Ornstein thanked the veterans for picking up weapons to fight enemies overseas so that he never has to worry about a foreign power invading his country or his hometown of Watertown.

Charity

Watertown Police Growing Facial Hair to Help Out Veterans

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Some members of the Watertown Police will be looking a bit scruffier in November, but they are doing it for a good cause. 

The Police Department has joined more than a dozen other law enforcement agencies in “No Shave November,” which benefits Home Base. This is a joint effort of the Red Sox Foundation and Massachusetts General Hospital Program which helps veterans and their families heal from the invisible wounds of war, such as Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and related conditions. The Home Base program helps not just the veterans, but also their families, said Watertown Police Officer Mendez said, because the effects of PTSD and TBI do not just impact veterans. The Watertown Police Department has a no beards policy. When officers get some time off, they often grow a goatee or beard, but shave it off when they return to duty, so Mendez thought it would be popular.

Around Town

Concert and Breakfast Planned for Watertown’s Veterans Day Observances

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The Watertown Veterans Services Office presents two events to mark Veterans Day this November. 

On Thursday November 10, 2016, Watertown proudly presents the World Famous Hal McIntyre Orchestra. The group is directed by Watertown’s Don Pentleton and stars Steve Marvin. The concert will be at the Watertown Middle School, 68 Waverley Ave. The performance will be from 7-9:30 p.m. and the doors will open at 6:30 p.m. This is a free concert and open to the public. Veterans Day Breakfast

On Friday, Nov.

Around Town

Town Honors Watertown Solider Killed in WWI by Naming Square After Him

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Tuesday afternoon, the Russo family finally got some closure after losing their brother and uncle Dominic in France during World War II. 

The Town of Watertown officially named the intersection of Palfrey and Forest streets Pvt. Dominic Joseph Russo Square and unveiled of the sign during a short ceremony Tuesday which drew family, local veterans and town officials and elected leaders. Russo died on Sept. 12, 1944, in Epinal, France, and was buried in the Epinal American Cemetery & Memorial with 5,300 American soldiers. Mary Russo, Dominic’s niece, said it was difficult on the family having Dominic buried so far away.

Around Town

Those Killed in Vietnam, Gold Star Families Honored at Moving Wall Ceremony

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Four decades after the end of the Vietnam War, tribute was paid to those killed in Southeast Asia and their families during the opening ceremony for the Vietnam Memorial Moving Wall at Gore Place, Thursday night. Hundreds of veterans, family members and patriotic residents turned out for the ceremony at the estate that straddles the Watertown-Waltham line. The ceremony celebrated the visit of the half-size replica of the Vietnam Wall. For many this was the type of honor they felt the Vietnam era veterans deserved at the time. More than 9 million people served during the Vietnam Era, 2.7 million served in country, and more than 58,000 were killed or are missing in action.

Around Town

Those Killed in Action, Gold Star Families Honored Thursday at Moving Wall

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The visit of the Vietnam Veterans Moving Wall officially opens with a ceremony Thursday evening at 7 p.m. which will also honor servicemen and women killed in action and Gold Star Families. The half-size replica of the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, D.C., will be at Gore Place in Waltham starting Thursday and will be on view through Aug. 15. Thursday’s ceremony will be held at 7 p.m. and Watertown Veteran’s groups will take part, said Watertown Veteran’s Agent Mark Comeiro. There will be other ceremonies taking place during the Moving Wall’s visit.

Around Town

Special Veterans Ceremonies Planned for Visit of Traveling Vietnam Memorial

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The Moving Wall, the half-sized Vietnam Memorial, will be at Gore Place from Aug. 10-15, and local Veterans Organizations will take part in ceremonies. 

Gore Place is located at 52 Gore St. in Waltham (just over the town line) and the wall will be located on the back of the property, near the Grove Street entrance. Each ceremony will have a particular dedication as follows:

Opening Ceremony, Thursday, August 11 at 7 p.m. Dedicated to those Killed in Action and Gold Star Families

Friday, August 12 at 7 p.m. Dedicated to MIAs, POWs and Their Families

Saturday, August 13 at 2 p.m. In Honor of All Vietnam Veterans

Sunday, August 14 at 2 p.m. In Honor of Our Active Duty Military

The organizers request and welcome the participation of all Veterans Organizations at any of our scheduled ceremonies. “Specifically we would like your membership to be in uniform (or if it is too hot to wear your hat) and be part of the procession to open each of these ceremonies,” the announcement reads.

Around Town

Veteran Shares His Experiences in Vietnam on Watertown Cable Show

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A Watertown veteran shares his story of service in the Vietnam War and recovering from post-traumatic stress disorder on the latest episode of A Veteran’s Story, hosted by Bob Kaprielian. A Veteran’s Story featuring SP4 Bob Quimby, US Army, who served in the Vietnam War during TET offensive. Bob was awarded the Combat Infantry Badge as well as the Purple Heart. After returning home from Vietnam, Bob was diagnosed with PDSD. Bob shares his story about dealing with PDSD and his recovery.