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From YouTube: Captain Tom Kelley Mural Unveiling
Description
Mayor Michelle Wu joined state and city representatives, veterans groups, and West Roxbury community members to unveil a new mural honoring Captain Tom Kelley. The Mayor also proclaimed September 7, 2023 as “Captain Thomas Kelley Day,” highlighting Captain Kelley's contributions to his country and local community, including being awarded the Medal of Honor.
Link to Promo: https://youtu.be/Vvk6r5LcvQ4
B
A
A
C
All
right,
I
didn't
want
to
mess
up
the
rankings.
I
want
to
thank
the
our
secretary
for
of
Office
of
Veterans
Affairs
Santiago
for
being
here
as
well,
and
commissioner
Santiago,
please
everyone
who
has
a
seat.
Please
take
a
seat,
we're
so
grateful
that
you
came
out
to
celebrate
with
us
and
that
we're
joined
today
by
such
luminaries
and
such
beacons
of
service
to
our
country,
to
our
city,
to
our
neighborhoods
and
role
models
for
for
this
generation.
C
I
am
very,
very
grateful
for
all
of
our.
Our
colleagues
who
are
here.
I
also
want
to
recognize.
In
addition
to
those
up
here,
I
see
City
councilor
Kendra
Lara
is
here.
Thank
you
for
your
leadership
and
I'm
just
going
to
give
a
little
bit
of
I'm
going
to
try
to
go
fast
because
I
know
everybody
is
melting
here,
I'm!
C
His
craft
was
struck,
causing
him
to
sustain
head
injuries,
but
thanks
to
his
actions
and
his
Swift
leadership,
he
and
his
men
were
able
to
move
their
boats
to
safety,
and
it
was
only
then
once
all
of
his
men
were
safe,
that
he
finally
allowed
someone
to
call
for
his
own
medical
assistance
for
his
courage.
He
received
the
Medal
of
Honor
the
very
next
year.
C
He
worked
to
ensure
that
all
of
our
veterans
found
stability
and
care
when
returning
from
service
that
they
were
treated
with
the
respect
and
dignity
that
they
deserve
and
through
a
collaboration
with
the
Department
of
Labor.
He
made
sure
that
our
veterans
were
able
to
access
good
jobs
and
continue
providing
for
themselves
and
their
families.
C
C
I
won't
read
all
of
the
the
long
language
explaining
exactly
why
this
honor
is
deserved,
but
I
I
will
just
share
that
at
the
very
end.
This
was
drafted
from
the
feedback
from
many
of
the
colleagues
and
and
Veterans
and
community
members
as
well,
and
at
the
end
it
says
to
many
of
us.
Captain
Kelly
has
been
more
than
a
colleague.
He
is
a
model
citizen,
a
mentor,
a
voice
of
reason,
a
source
of
wisdom,
a
sympathetic
ear
to
vent
to
an
inspirational
figure
and
a
Pillar
of
Strength
for
our
entire
community.
C
I
want
to
recognize
General,
Woody
Woodhouse,
of
course,
as
well
for
everything
that
he
does
in
our
city
and
Beyond,
and
we
also
have
been
joined
by
colleagues
in
elected
office,
Senator
Mike
Rush.
Thank
you
for
your
service.
Thank
you
for
your
leadership
city,
council,
Bruce,
illusion
state
representative,
Billy,
McGregor,.
C
So
this
is
one
day
on
that
piece
of
paper,
and
it
is
one
day
that
comes
up
every
single
year,
but
we
wanted
to
make
sure
that
we
would
respect
and
respond
to
the
desire
from
the
strong
request
from
community
that
there
be
some
reminder
every
single
day
of
the
year
who
we
choose
to
elevate,
who
we
choose
to
lift
up
and
whose
stories
are
forever
painted
on
our
buildings
and
remembered
in
in
our
in
our
monuments
across
the
city.
This
really
matters.
C
It
reflects
our
values
and
our
priorities,
our
pride
as
a
community,
but
it
also
ensures
that
every
young
person
walking
down
the
street
to
go
to
school
can
be
reminded
and
know
that
someone
else
who
grew
up
just
like
them
in
West
Roxbury,
turned
out
to
be
a
hero
and
turned
out
to
give
his
whole
life
to
serving
others.
And
we
thank
you
for
giving
that
example.
C
The
residents
of
West
Roxbury,
your
friends
and
neighbors
Captain
approached
the
city
with
the
request
that
we
create
a
mural
to
honor
you
and
all
of
your
incredible
contributions
to
our
community,
our
city
and
our
country,
and
so
our
many
City
departments
all
jumped
into
action
led
by
the
commissioner
and
our
Office
of
Veterans
Services,
but
also
our
office
of
Neighborhood
Services
and
Dan
Hudson,
our
West
West
Roxbury
liaison,
is
here.
Thank
you.
C
Thank
you
also,
our
department
of
our
office
of
arts
and
culture,
whose
beautiful
work
lifts
up
many
stories
across
the
city
and
they
engaged
local
artists
who's
from
right
around
here
in
my
home,
neighborhood
Rosendale,
but
close
enough
to
West
Roxbury
local
artist,
Laura
didonato
Wyatt
poop
made
sure
that
this
beautiful
mural
would
be
fitting
and
deserved
deserving
of
of
what
we
what
we
are
lifting
up.
So
thank
you
for
your
service
and
thank
you
to
everyone
for
holding
and
walking
in
this
example
with
all
that,
we
continue
to
do
for
the
city.
A
Thank
you
mayor,
so,
along
with
with
Richie
I,
also
wanted
to
recognize
the
VFW
of
members
that
are
here
in
attendance.
The
ancient
and
honorable
artillery
company
that
are
here
the
DAV
as
well
Disabled,
American
Veterans,
are
here.
General
rice
is
also
here
just
recently
retired,
where
he's
at
there
he
is.
A
We
also
have
Joe
Milano,
former
civilian
Aid
to
the
Secretary
of
the
army
and
also
the
owner
of
the
establishment.
The
Union
Oyster
House
Down
in
a
so
so
it
just
goes
to
show
and
also
secretary
John
Santiago
here
that,
like
the
mayor
had
mentioned
just
goes
to
show
the
impact
that
Captain
Kelly
has
in
our
community,
and
it
goes
beyond
just
here
in
West,
Roxbury
or
Boston.
It
transcends
throughout
the
whole
country
in
what
he
has
done
for
for
the
country
as
well.
A
At
this
time,
I
would
like
to
have
the
opportunity
to
actually
read
his
citation
his
Medal
of
Honor
citation
one
of
the
things
that
I
noticed
from
from
Captain
Kelly
was
that
he
didn't
know
he
was
going
to
get
the
medal
of
honor.
He
was
actually
invited
to
go
to
the
White
House
to
meet
with
the
president
a
day
after
his
birthday,
and
that
was
when
he
received
his
Medal
of
Honor,
which
was
on
May
14th
of
1970.
A
Suddenly,
an
enemy
rocket
scored
a
direct
hit
on
the
Cox's
flat,
the
shell
penetrating
the
thick
armored
plate
and
the
explosion
spring
sharpened
in
all
directions.
Sustaining
serious
head
wounds
from
the
blast
which
hurled
him
to
the
deck
of
the
monitor.
Lieutenant
Commander
Kelly
disregarded
his
severe
injuries
and
attempted
to
continue
directing
the
boats.
A
Although
unable
to
move
from
the
deck
or
to
speak
clearly
into
a
radio,
he
succeeded
in
relaying
his
commands
through
one
of
his
men
until
the
enemy
attack
was
silenced
and
the
boats
were
able
to
move
to
an
area
of
safety,
Lieutenant,
Commander,
Kelly's,
brilliant
leadership.
Bold
initiative
and
Resolute
determination
served
to
inspire
his
men
and
provide
the
impetus
needed
to
carry
out
the
mission
after
he
was
medically
evacuated
by
helicopter.
A
D
Thank
you,
commissioner,
mayor
Wu,
distinguished
colleagues,
electeds
fellow
veterans
good
morning
and
a
special
good
morning
to
Captain
Tom
Kelly
and
his
wife
Joan,
who
I
might
also
had
served
a
distinguished
career
in
the
Navy
and
just
like
the
old
adage,
says
beside
a
good
man.
You'll
find
a
great
woman.
So
thank
you
for
your
service.
Joe.
D
That's
because
it's
a
reminder
of
the
sacrifice,
the
courage
and
sometimes
the
loss
that
thousands
of
soldiers
both
past
and
present
have
represented
and
no
matter
how
important
those
Battlefield
actions
may
have
been.
The
truth
is
that
it's
about
the
values,
the
recipient,
exemplifies
and,
in
the
case
of
Tom
Kelly.
Those
dailies
were
on
display
one
hot
summer
day
in
Vietnam
over
50
years
ago.
D
Because
to
me,
that's
what
underwrites,
each
Medal
of
Honor,
that
perseverance
that
resilience
and
that
sacrifice
and
what's
even
more
remarkable
and
too
often
overlooked,
is
how
Tom
Kelly
continued
to
exemplify
those
values.
Long
after
that
fateful
day,
you
see,
after
all,
those
days
spent
in
recovery,
those
many
nights
lying
on
Hospital
gurneys,
the
operations,
the
wounds,
the
trauma,
Tom
Kelly
never
gave
up
on
his
commitment
to
service
country.
He
never
gave
up
on
his
commitment
to
serve
our
military,
and
our
veterans.
D
I
had
the
pleasure
of
getting
lunch
with
both
Tom
and
Joan
earlier
this
year,
and
he
told
me
about
that
battle,
not
the
one
where
he
won
the
Medal
of
Honor
for,
but
rather
the
battle
to
still
serve
in
the
Navy
after
he
was
told
that
he
was
no
longer
medically
fit
for
active
duty
and
how
was
some
tenacity
a
lot
of
grit
and
some
luck.
He
was
once
again
able
to
lead
sailors
becoming
Captain,
Tom,
Kelly
and
retiring
after
30
years
in
service.
D
The
book
is
so
much
more
than
their
personal
story,
it's
fundamentally
about
embodying
perseverance
and
resilience
throughout
one's
life,
whether
it's
from
his
early
days.
Just
a
few
blocks
from
here
on
Meredith
Street,
says
time
at
BC
high
to
his
Naval
career
and
even
on
that
fateful
day
in
1969,
when
he
would
live
to
hear
the
words
fire
suppressed
skipper.
D
Thanks
to
his
vision,
the
Massachusetts
Department
of
Veterans
Services
would
go
on
to
lead
the
country
by
honorably
serving
those
who
served
us
under
his
leadership.
Veterans
Services
were
expanded.
The
safe
team
was
created
to
address
suicide
among
our
veteran
community
and
with
the
support
of
people
like
Joan,
the
women's
veteran
network
was
founded.
D
D
Thomas
belief
in
teamwork
underwritten
by
that
perseverance
that
resilience,
and
that
sacrifice
is
what
his
legacy
is
all
about.
Today
in
this
mural
will
carry
on
that
message
long
past.
Any
of
us
are
here
so
on
behalf
of
Governor
Healey,
lieutenant
governor
Driscoll
and
all
the
staff
and
the
executive
Veterans
Services
office.
We
thank
you.
A
A
And
as
a
retired
Navy
sailor
myself,
thank
you
Tom
and
Joan
for
leading
the
way
for
US
Sailors
that
that
came
after
you.
So
thank
you
very
much.
Another
person
that
I
would
like
to
recognize
who's
here
is
David
hinka
from
the
VA
Boston
healthcare
system.
Thank
you
very
much.
David
for
for
coming
he's
also
did
do
a
lot
of
great
work
in
our
community
as
well
at
this
time,
without
any
further
Ado.
As
they
say,
I
would
like
to
call
the
honoree
up
himself.
B
Hey,
after
all,
those
words
I
just
don't
know
what
to
say
mayor
thanks
for
being
here
and
thanks
for
those
really
really
gracious
words.
I
Joan
and
I
were
over
here
the
other
day
visiting
my
old
stomping
ground
and
we
decided
to
stick
ahead
and
The
Joint
next
door,
never
been
there
before.
So
we
parked
over
there
and
I
saw
the
mural
first.
C
C
B
B
B
B
I
can't
remember
the
name
of
it
and
there's
one
right
behind
me:
I
think
it
was
just
called
a
West
Roxbury
Cafe
across
the
street
I
think
right
over
there
I
worked
in
a
fruit
and
vegetable
store,
run
by
Richard,
Morris
and
sons
and
at
Christmas
time
I
sold
Christmas
trees
in
that
parking
lot
right
next
door.
It
was
just
a
grassy
area.
At
that
time,
Mike's
Deli
was
right.
B
Were
three
teachers
right
in
a
row,
my
dad
Mr
Butler
next
door,
who
taught
at
Boston
Latin
school,
and
he
had
he
had
twin
boys
who
became
priests
in
the
Archdiocese
of
Boston
and
Mrs
Riley
two
doors
down
her
son
Bobby
was
was
my
pal.
We
used
to
hang
around
billingsfield
and
they
used
to
flooded
every
every
winter
and
we'd
learn
how
to
skate
over
there
occasionally
walk
up
to
turtle.
Pond
walk
up
to
turtle
pond
and
skate
over
there.
C
B
Humble
but
I
I
would
think
of
other
people
here
in
West
Roxbury,
whom
I
knew
growing
up,
who
were
probably
at
least,
if
not
more
worthy
of
this
particular
honor
and
I'm,
specifically
mentioning
Michael
Diamond,
who
happens
to
be
here.
Mike
and
I
grew
up
together.
His
dad
was
a
State
Rep,
but
Michael
and
I
went
to
Holy
Cross
together
and
he
became
a
linchpin
and
the
Good
Friday
Accords,
which
brought
peace
to
Northern
Ireland.
B
B
And
also
out,
there
is
Tom
Hines
Tom
was
a
year
behind
me
at
the
Randall
G
Mars,
but
we
and
at
BC
high,
but
Tom
developed
half
the
city
of
Boston,
so
he
he
he's
worthy
of
a
mural
of
his
own
I,
think
and
right
around
the
corner.
From
me,
growing
up
on
Clement
Avenue
was
a
couple
of
Brothers
Ken,
Kenny
and
Al
Hughes.
B
B
He
dragged
me
along
to
serve
Mass
with
him,
and
that
was
when
I
was
I
was
12
years
old
and
we
had
these
old
veterans
in
the
crowd
going
to
mass
and
they'd
come
up
to
me
after
Mass
and
say
Hey
kid,
you
want
a
butt
and
they
had
these
little
four
packs
of
Chesterfields
and
a
12
year
old.
Kid.
Of
course,
I
wanted
a
butt
and
I
filled
my
pockets
with
them,
and
I
started
smoking
at
12
years
old
and
I.
Think
I
think
the
VA
for
that
Mr
Hankey.
B
Are
you
still
here,
but
I
quit
I
quit
in
19
1991
1992.
anyway,
the
city
of
Boston
has
been
terrific
to
me
and
to
the
my
fellow
Medal
of
Honor
recipients.
We've
had
four
marijuana
conventions
here
in
Boston
and
mayor
I'd
like
to
highlight
the
fact
that
your
your
fire
department,
your
Police
Department,
your
EMS,
your
transportation,
people,
your
secretaries
or
your
Commissioners,
Rob
Santiago
and
his
predecessors,
they've
just
rolled
out
the
red
carpet
and
people
always
want
to
come
back
to
Boston,
yeah
and
so
I
think
I've
said
enough.
B
B
Yeah,
my
speaking
of
the
real
Roxbury,
my
my
my
great-grandparents
came.
My
great
grandfather
came
over
here
in
1842
from
Limerick
Ireland
and
lived
in
Roxbury
was
a
laborer
and
went
in
1861
or
1862,
went
off
to
fight
in
the
Union
Army
and
was
captured
down
at
Weldon
Railroad
in
North,
Carolina
and
starved
to
death
in
the
prison
in
Salisbury,
North
Carolina
and
his
family
and
the
glomley
family
go
back.
They
were
big
Pals
in
Roxbury
during
those
days
so
again
and
everybody
involved.