Around Town

Traveling Vietnam Memorial Wall Coming to Gore Place in August

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The traveling replica of the Vietnam Memorial, known as the Moving Wall, will be on display at Gore Place this summer. Watertown Veterans Agent Mark Comeiro said the wall would be on display in August, and on one of the days Watertown will take part in ceremonies surrounding the wall. Color guards from the Watertown Police and Fire departments will be involved along with veterans groups, he told the Town Council. The wall is a half-size replica of the memorial in Washington, D.C., which lists the names of those killed in the Vietnam War. There are actually two Moving Walls, according to the Moving Wall website.

Around Town

This Week’s Observances of Memorial Day Around Watertown

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Watertown’s veterans groups have a whole host of activities planned to observe Memorial Day. 

WEDNESDAY, May 25, 2016 at 5 p.m.: Meet at Saint Patrick’s Cemetery and Ridgelawn Cemetery

(RAIN DATE THURSDAY MAY 26th, 2016)

Flags will be placed at veterans’ graves at all Watertown cemeteries by Veteran organizations and Volunteers

THURSDAY, May 26, 2016: Veterans School Visitation:

9:30 a.m. – Cunniff School

FRIDAY, May 27, 2016: Veterans School Visitations:

9 a.m. – Watertown High School

9 a.m. – Lowell School

10 a.m. – Middle School

10 a.m. – Hosmer School

SUNDAY, May 29, 2016: Morning Services and Dedications:

8 a.m. – Cottage Street Cemetery

8:15 a.m. – Coolidge Square POW/MIA Monument

8:30 a.m. – WWI Memorial Stone

8:45 a.m. – Common Street Cemetery

9 a.m. -Charles River Float

9:15a.m. – WWII Memorial Stone

9:20 a.m. – Saltonstall Park

9:30 a.m. – Ridgelawn Cemetery

9:45 a.m. -St. Patrick’s Cemetery

10:00 a.m. – Memorial Service at St. Patrick’s Church

MONDAY, May 30, 2016: Morning Dedications and Parade:

10:30a.m – 11:30a.m. – Parade Check-in at TUFTS Parking lot

12:00p.m. – Parade Begins (A ceremony will take place at Saltonstall Park after the parade)

Around Town

Watertown Veterans Office Seeks Volunteers to Place Flags on Vets’ Graves

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The annual Flag Marker Disbursement at Veteran Gravesites will be held on Wednesday, May 25, announced Watertown Veterans Agent Mark Comeiro. Watertown will hold its annual Flag Marker disbursement at Veterans Gravesites on Wednesday May 25 th , 2016 beginning at 5 p.m.

If anyone would like to volunteer to assist in this honorable event, please meet at Ridgelawn Cemetery, on Highland Avenue in Watertown.

Around Town

Veterans Agent Looking for WWII, Korean War Vets for Free Trip to Washington

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Veterans Agent Mark Comeiro seeks veterans from Watertown to join an all-expense paid Honor Flight to Washington D.C. to see the World War II and Korean War memorials and see other sights. 

Comeiro is looking for people to join the trip in September. The deadline is approaching fast, however, so interested veterans must sign up by Monday, April 25. Veterans or family members can come down to the Veterans Services Office in Town Hall, 149 Main St. in Watertown during business hours or call Mark Comeiro at 617-972-6416. Honor Flight New England was started in 2009 by Joe Byron, a New Hampshire resident when the group joined the national Honor Flight network.

Around Town

Public Invited to Veterans Day Breakfast, Ceremony and Concert

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Watertown will celebrate its veterans on Wednesday with a number of events, including a breakfast open to the public. Watertown Veteran’s Agent Mark Comeiro invites the publci to join in the following events on Veterans Day, Wednesday, Nov 11, 2015. 9 a.m. – Breakfast will be served at the Marine Corps League Shutt Detachment, 215 Mount Auburn Street and is open to the public

11:11 a.m. (11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month is when World War 1 ended) we will commence a Veteran’s Day Ceremony at the Shutt Detachment to include a volley fired from the Marine Corps League’s Firing Detail

7 p.m. A Salute to veterans Free concert at the Watertown Middle school, 68 Waverly Ave. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m.

“We really want to encourage the residents to join us for breakfast and our ceremony on the morning of Veteran’s Day!” Comerio said.

Entertainment

Enjoy a Free Veterans Day Concert by the Hal McIntyre Orchestra

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Watertown will hold a “Salute to All Veterans” on Veterans Day with a free concert featuring the world famous Hal McIntyre Orchestra. The orchestra is conducted by Watertown’s own Don Pentelton and stars Steve Marvin. The concert will include a Tribute to Frank Sinatra’s 1ooth birthday. The concert will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2015 at Watertown Middle School, 68 Waverly Ave, Watertown, from 7-9:30 p.m. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.

For more information, please call the Watertown Veterans Office at 617-972-6416 or email at mcomeiro@watertown-ma.gov

Around Town

Watertown Honors its War Killed & Wounded, Named a Purple Heart Town

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Watertown has a long history of military service stretches back to George Washington’s time, and the town has more than 40 Purple Heart recipients – the medal honoring those injured or killed in combat. Several of them were on hand Tuesday evening, along with family members of many others, for the ceremony recognizing the town as a Purple Heart Community. 

“We are here to honor all of those who sacrificed for their country and were killed or wounded in combat,” said Watertown Veterans Services Officer Mark Comeiro, during the ceremony next to Town Hall in Saltonstall Park. One of those honored was 89-year-old Henry Mosca, who was hit by shrapnel while serving in the Army during the Battle of the Bulge. He wore his medal to the ceremony. “I don’t show (the Purple Heart) it off.

Around Town

Watertown Celebrating Being Named a Purple Heart Community

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The Town of Watertown will celebrate being recognized as a Purple Heart Community. Veteran’s Services Officer Mark Comeiro announced that the town will receive the recognition this week, and the ceremony marking the honor will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 13 at 5:30 p.m. in front of Town Hall. “Watertown will be recognized as A Purple Heart Community and we will honor all Watertown residents who are Purple Heart Recipients and families of deceased Purple Heart recipients,” Comeiro said. The mission of the Military Order of the Purple Heart is to foster an environment of goodwill and camaraderie among combat wounded veterans, promote patriotism, support necessary legislative initiatives, and most importantly, provide service to all veterans and their families, Comeiro said.