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From YouTube: Remembering and Honoring Our Massachusetts Heroes 2017
Description
For Memorial Day weekend, the Massachusetts Military Heroes Fund's team of volunteers planted nearly 37,000 flags on Boston Common. The tribute honors the sons and daughters of Massachusetts who lost their lives in service to the United States - from the Revolutionary War to today.
A
Good
morning,
isn't
it
a
beautiful
day
in
all
sincerity,
I
think
it's
always
a
beautiful
day
when
they're
able
to
gather
together
as
a
family
of
space,
Staters
and
others
to
honor
and
celebrate
the
lives
of
37
thousand
two
hundred
and
fifty
one
of
our
brothers
and
sisters
who
gave
their
life
for
our
Commonwealth
in
our
country,
and
so
we
are
grateful.
My
name
is
Steve
Kerrigan
I
am
the
president
of
the
board
of
the
Massachusetts
military
heroes
fund
and
we're
grateful
to
have
all
of
you
here
and
joining
us
in
this
special
day.
A
A
Tom
Cronin,
Christie,
Coombs,
Mori,
Anna,
SiC,
Dave,
green
Oh,
lieutenant
diver,
sorry,
Colonel,
bull,
colonel
Tom
Devine
and
our
tremendous
staff,
Kathy
King
and
our
incomparable
executive
director
Diane
Nealon,
without
whom
we
could
do
none
of
the
work
that
we
do
not
just
this
weekend,
but
throughout
the
year.
I
also
want
to
take
an
opportunity
to
thank
the
offices
of
mayor
Marty,
Walsh
and
the
folks
at
the
Boston,
Water
and
Sewer,
who
had
the
now-infamous
and
famous
and
coveted
water
truck
here
yesterday
to
support
our
volunteers.
A
I
want
to
thank
the
folks
of
the
Boston
Parks
Department
thank
the
folks
at
in
the
office
of
governor
Charlie,
Baker
and
lieutenant
governor
Karyn
Polito.
Also
I
want
to
thank
Major
General
keep
here
from
the
National
Guard,
who
has
been
an
integral
partner
of
ours
all
year
round.
Also
Army
survivor
outreach
services,
I
was
who's
here.
A
The
massachusetts
department,
veteran
services
represented
by
our
secretaries
here,
boston
veteran
services,
the
Lowell
Veterans
Center
project
351,
and
this
afternoon
we
are
having
lunch
with
our
families
of
our
fallen
at
the
John
F
Kennedy
Presidential
Library,
on
behalf
of
the
foundation
celebrating
President
Kennedy's
100th
birthday,
they're
hosting
us
later
on
today.
I
also
want
to
take
an
opportunity
to
welcome
them.
Those
folks
who
are
here
the
governor
and
Lieutenant
Governor
are
here
this
year,
as
they
always
are,
and
we
appreciate
that
mayor
Walsh
is
here.
A
General
Keith,
of
course,
is
here
and
Speaker
DeLeo
is
here
and
treasurer
Goldberg
is
here
as
well,
and
many
other
friends
and
families
are
here,
but,
most
importantly,
all
of
you
are
here
our
families
of
the
Fallen
who
have
paid
the
ultimate
price
and
given
us
this
opportunity
to
stand
with
you
and
honor
your
loved
one.
So
thank
you
all
for
for
being
here
as
well.
I
want
to
also
thank
our
financial
supporters,
without
whom
we
couldn't
do
any
of
the
work
we
do.
A
John
Hancock
financial
AT&T,
Bank
of
America,
Arbella,
Insurance,
BNY,
Mellon,
Boston,
Scientific
and
Macmillan
education
and
for
event
and
institutional
support.
You
can
imagine
when
it's
6:00
in
the
morning
you
decide
to
move
everything
under
a
small
tent
the
event
institutional
supports
important.
We
want
to
make
sure
we
thank
Michael,
P
Wasserman,
incorporated
Michael
himself,
Chris
Faris
their
entire
team,
and
we
also
want
to
thank
Dave,
Garino
and
Melwood
global
for
their
support.
Finally,
I'd
also
like
to
thank
the
Commonwealth
brass
quintet.
B
What
so
proudly
we
hailed
at
the
twilight's
last
gleaming,
whose
broad
stripes
and
bright
stars
through
the
perilous
fight
or
the
ramparts
we
watched
were
so
gallantly
streaming
and
the
Rockets
red
glare.
The
bombs
bursting
in
air,
gave
proof
through
the
night
that
our
flag
was
still
there
oh
say:
does
that
star-spangled
banner,
yet.
C
A
Memorial
Day,
dedicated
in
1868,
was
established
to
ensure
that
no
generation
would
ever
forget.
Those
who
fell
in
battles
fought
won
and
lost
that
our
republic
might
not
remain
free.
It's
with
that
charge
in
mind
that
we
established
this
annual
Memorial
Day
flag
garden
to
remind
people
that
each
of
the
37,000
251
flags
that
will
stand
here
this
weekend
in
tribute
to
our
fallen,
represent
a
heartbeat
silenced
in
the
service
of
our
Commonwealth
and
our
country.
A
Yesterday,
we
were
joined
by
over
600
volunteers,
who
came
from
all
across
our
Commonwealth,
our
nation,
and
indeed
from
around
the
world,
to
help
create
this
beautiful
garden
of
flags
to
honor
our
heroes,
heroes
that
many
of
us
never
met.
Here's
the
different
backgrounds
different
genders
sexual
orientations,
different
religions
and
different
races.
No
one
asked
when
they
volunteered
where
the
Catholic
section
was
or
where
the
Jewish
a
Protestant
or
Muslim
section
of
the
flag
garden
was
no
one
said:
where
did
the
flags
for
the
straight
sailors
of
the
game?
Arena's
go?
A
No
one
asked
those
things
or
said
those
things,
because
they
didn't
care
about
those
things
as
much.
They
cared
that
this
is
a
garden
of
flags
dedicated
and,
in
fact,
consecrated
to
the
memory
of
37,000,
251,
brave
men
and
women,
soldiers
and
sailors
airmen
and
women
Marines
and
Coast
Guard's
men
and
women.
All
of
whom
said
send
me.
A
They
said
I'll
wear
the
uniform
of
a
nation
built
on
the
opportunity
and
diversity
it
offers
those
who
live
here
and
whose
credo
out
of
many
one
when
lived
up
to,
makes
our
nation
worthy
of
such
an
enormous
sacrifice.
In
his
order
to
establish
Memorial,
Day
General
John,
a
Logan
demolished
us
all
that
let
no
avarice
vandalism
of
avarice
or
neglect
no
ravages
of
time
testify
to
the
present
or
to
the
coming
generations
that
we
have
forgotten
as
a
people.
A
Our
citizens
have
volunteered
and
served,
and
in
fact,
on
this
very
box
in
common,
it
has
been
a
gathering
place
for
those
preparing
for
and
suffering
through,
the
ravages
of
war,
and
so
it's
with
that
history
and
with
our
families
sacrifices
in
mind
that
we
gather
here
to
honor
those
who
came
before
us
and
to
carry
on
that
legacy
connecting
this
land
to
the
brave
men
and
women
of
Massachusetts
who
fought
and
died
for
our
freedom
in
keeping
with
our
custom.
These
slides
will
remain
in
place
until
Monday
evening
at
6
p.m.
A
We
never
had
a
chance
to
meet,
but
all
of
them
we
have
a
chance
to
honor.
Let
us
remember
the
fallen
from
our
paths
and
are
all
too
painful
present.
Let
us
plant
our
flag
on
Memorial
Day
to
again
stand
for
the
ideals
on
which
it
was
created.
So
please
join
me
on
this
day
and
all
others
to
help
fulfill
the
pledge
made
so
long
ago
that
we
raise
above
them
the
dear
old
flag,
that
saved
they
saved
from
dishonor.
A
A
It
is
now
my
great
honor
and
distinct
pleasure
to
introduce
a
great
partner
in
our
efforts
who
one
who
leads
our
Commonwealth
wonderfully
and
leaves
the
agencies
that
we
work
with
well
and
is
constant
partner
and
everything
that
we
do
in
supporting
the
families
of
our
fallen
heroes.
The
governor
of
the
Commonwealth
of
Massachusetts,
Charlie,
Baker,.
D
Now
remember
if
it
was
six
or
seven
years
ago,
I
don't
think
it
was
eight
when
I
first
saw
this
display
here,
I
was
on
my
way
home
from
somewhere
and
I
was
driving
down,
Charles
Street
and
coming
up.
Beacon,
Street
and
I
saw
this,
and
I
saw
people
over
here.
I
didn't
know
what
it
was,
but
I
parked
anyway
and
came
walking
over
and
had
a
chance
for
the
first
time
to
experience
the
frankly,
the
majesty
and
the
imagination
of
this
particular
display
and
I
took
pictures
of
it
and
I
sent
him
to
everybody.
D
So,
in
the
course
of
my
comments,
I
just
spent
a
few
minutes
talking
about
him
talking
about
where
he
was
from
what
he
was
interested
in
as
a
kid
why
he
joined
the
service,
how
he
died
and
how
much
he
would
have
loved
to
have
been
there
that
day
to
continue
to
participate
in
this
community
service
activity
with
all
of
his
friends
and
his
colleagues
and
I
asked
for
people
to
just
take
a
moment
of
silence.
To
remember
him.
D
Then
it
was
a
letter
from
his
mom
and
she
said
I
just
wanted
you
to
know
that,
even
though
I
wasn't
there
that
day,
a
whole
bunch
of
people
reach
out
to
me
and
told
me
what
you
said
about
my
son
and
I
just
want
you
to
know
how
important
it
is
to
us,
the
parents,
the
families
of
those
who
are
lost,
that
they
not
be
forgotten
that
they
be
remembered
and
that
people
continue
to
speak
of
them
and
speak
well
of
them.
Now
that
they're
no
longer
here
to
continue
to
create
their
own
memories.
D
D
We
should
be
a
grateful
nation,
profoundly
grateful
for
all
those
we've
lost
I've
given
talks
and
then
some
and
we'll
give
to
those
who
come
next,
which
is
why
this
is
so
important
why
your
presence
here
today
is
so
important
and
why
we
should
always
always
honor
and
remember
and
thank
the
following.
Thank
you
very
much.
A
E
Thank
you
very
much.
Steve
and
I
want
to
thank
everyone
at
mass
military
heroes
fund.
This
is
a
remarkable
remarkable
day,
even
though
the
rain
is
here.
It's
still
there's
something
about
today.
I
want
to
thank
the
governor
Speaker
of
the
House
Vaughn's
Leo,
the
treasurer
Deb
Goldberg,
the
secretary
of
military
services,
to
the
state
for
in
securing
arena,
our
Commission
of
Veterans
Affairs
and
the
City
of
Boston
Giselle
Stirling.
E
All
of
the
veterans
that
are
here
most
of
all
the
families
about
fallen
heroes
as
mayor
every
time
that
we
do
this
event
in
May
I'm
filled
with
awe
to
see
the
sea
of
flags
here
on
Boston
Common.
This
is
America's
first
public
park
and
its
original
purpose,
when
it
was
built,
was
to
also
have
military
training
exercises
in
this
Park.
E
In
these
flags
we
see
the
images
of
brave
servicemen
and
profound
sacrifice
that
has
created
our
nation
so
long
ago
and
then
as
given
us
and
continues
to
give
us
the
freedoms
in
each
of
our
generations
and
that
protect
us
to
this
very
day.
We
stand
in
wonder
and
in
gratitude
before
them,
as
we
think
of
the
beloved
human
beings
that
each
of
these
flags
represent.
They
have
blessed
us
with
many
gifts.
E
They
have
given
us
security
of
knowing
that,
no
matter
how
frightening
the
world
may
seem,
brave
men
and
women
stand
between
us
and
evil
and
ready
to
lie
down
their
lives
every
single
day.
They
remind
us
that,
no
matter
how
much
the
world
has
changed,
the
timeless
virtues
of
courage
and
service
remain
a
foundation
of
strength.
The
affirm
for
us
that
every
single
service,
member
and
veteran
we
meet,
offer
that
same
sacrifice
and
they
blessed
us
with
a
model
of
how
to
live
a
life
of
meaning
and
purpose.
E
President
and
veteran
John
F
Kennedy
said
about
his
brother
Joe,
who
fell
to
action
73
years
ago
this
summer,
his
future
may
have
been
cut
short,
but
his
life
had
the
completeness
of
perfection.
The
way
he
lived.
The
way
he
died
could
not
have
been
improved
upon.
That
kind
of
perfection
is
what
each
of
these
flags
represent
living
with
complete
purpose
in
all
in
all.
E
Any
of
us
can
hope
for
in
a
few
minutes
we're
going
to
hear
the
names
that
we
have
lost
in
September,
11th
2001
I
want
to
personally
acknowledge
and
thank
the
family
members
of
those
heroes.
You
and
your
loved
ones
have
given
the
additional
gift
of
bringing
us
together
here
today
by
standing
with
you
to
remember
them.
We
recommit
ourselves
to
the
values
they
lived
and
died,
for
we
keep
their
memories
in
our
gratitude
in
our
hearts,
not
just
on
Memorial
Day,
but
every
single
day
of
our
lives.
A
And
now
it's
my
honor
to
invite
to
the
podium.
The
bass
state's
own
ambassador,
Theodore
Sedgwick
was
a
commissioner
for
the
world
war.
One
Centennial
Commission
was
going
to
speak
to
us
about
their
efforts
and
give
us
a
little
context
of
the
history
of
what
we're
experiencing
this
year
in
2017
in
the
centennial
of
World
War
one,
the
Ambassador
has
been
gracious
enough
to
give
up
his
service
throughout
his
entire
career
and
we're
lucky
to
have
him
here
with
us
today,
ambassador.
F
F
The
monument
here
is
a
civil
war
monument,
but
of
course
it
speaks
to
all
generations
and
the
solemn
occasion
recalls
the
Diary
of
a
collateral
ancestor
of
mine,
Major
William
Dwight
Sedgwick
of
Lenox
Massachusetts,
who
was
mortally
wounded
in
the
bloodiest
day
in
American
history,
the
Battle
of
Antietam,
as
he
lay
dying
and
his
diary
is
in
the
Massachusetts
Historical
Society,
as
he
lay
dying
unable
to
move
on
extremely
hot
fall
day.
It
was
about
195
degrees.
He
wrote
the
following
passage
in
his
diary,
which
is
at
the
society.
F
I
have
been
praying
God
to
forgive
my
sins,
to
bless
and
comfort,
my
darling,
wife
and
children.
My
dearest
mother
and
sisters
on
which
my
friends
know
that
I
had
fallen
while
doing
my
duty
as
well
as
was
possible,
which
I
can
truly
assert
and
I
think
that
sentiment
is
shared
by
all
our
fallen
heroes,
as
comforting
for
me
today
to
place
a
flag
in
Major
Sedgwick's
memory.
F
Here
at
the
sail
sailor
and
soldiers,
monument
I'm,
truly
honored,
to
be
here
as
a
commissioner
of
the
world
war,
one
Centennial
Commission,
created
by
Congress
to
honor
and
commemorate
those
who
made
the
ultimate
sacrifice
for
their
country
and
the
Great
War.
Exactly
a
hundred
years
ago,
this
year
and
I
want
to
talk
a
little
bit
about
the
role
that
Massachusetts
played
in
the
conflict.
They
really
played
a
role
way
outside
outsized
compared
to
the
population
and
the
size
of
the
state.
F
The
very
the
very
first
full
US
Army
division
to
go
over
to
France
and
serve
was
the
26th
Yankee
division
made
up
largely
of
Massachusetts
National
Guard
units
World
War,
one
when
we
think
about
it,
really
changed
everything
in
Boston,
everything
in
the
United
States.
Indeed,
in
the
world,
with
respect
to
race,
gender,
music,
culture,
the
Massachusetts
National
Guard,
mobilized
company,
L,
372nd,
Infantry
Regiment,
composed
of
African
American
soldiers
from
Boston
and
Cambridge,
who
served
with
great
distinction.
F
The
Massachusetts
State
Guard
the
state
militia
that
replaced
the
National
Guard
serving
in
France
recruited
women
as
nurses,
the
first
time
since
the
Massachusetts
militia
were
formed
in
1636
that
women
served
in
the
militia.
It's
a
remarkable
achievement
and
general
Keith
and
I
were
talking
before
the
ceremony.
Think
about
that
this
National
Guard,
the
freed
Assessor
militia,
was
formed
in
8th
in
1636,
which
coincidentally
was
was
the
first
member
of
my
family
to
come
over.
He
landed
in
Charleston
Charleston
in
1636
and
he
died.
F
He
became
a
general
for
Oliver
Cromwell
died
in
Jamaica
fighting
for
oliver
cromwell.
That
was
the
first
time
that
women
served
in
the
militia
over
100.
Eighty
nine
thousand
base
Staters
served
in
the
armed
forces
during
the
Great
War
and
Yankee
division.
The
Yankee
division,
as
I
say,
composed
mostly
of
Massachusetts
National
Guard
units,
was
the
most
decorated
of
the
National
Guard
formations
with
229
Distinguished
Service
crosses
awarded
to
its
members.
229
is
remarkable.
F
It
is
clear
that
the
Allies
would
not
have
prevailed
in
that
in
the
conflict
of
World
War
one.
If
we,
if
the
United
States
hadn't,
entered
the
war
and
and
if
the
Massachusetts
soldiers
had
not
played
so
critical
a
role
in
that
surprisingly,
there
is
no
Memorial
in
Washington
for
World
War
one
soldiers,
it
was
Memorial
for
World
War,
two
the
course
Korea
Vietnam,
but
there's
no.
There
is
a
National
Monument
out
in
Kansas
City,
which
was
erected
after
World
War
one,
but
there's
no
monument
in
Washington.
F
So
the
work
of
our
Commission
is
to
create
a
monument.
Indeed,
we
have
a
site
picked
out
in
front
of
the
for
those
of
you
who
are
familiar
with
Washington
in
front
of
the
Willard
hotel,
there's
Pershing
Park,
and
so
we
had
some
good
news.
Last
week,
we've
got
approval
for
our
conceptual
design.
It's
going
to
be
similar
to
the
Vietnam
Memorial,
which
I
think
is
so
powerful,
because
it's
a
wall
commemorating
the
soldiers
who
died
in
that
conflict.
So
that's
that's.
F
What
we're
working
on
the
Great
War
is
also
called
The
Forgotten
War,
because
it
is
overshadowed
by
World
War
two,
but
it
certainly
wasn't
forgotten
by
the
generations
that
came
after
the
war
which
built
memorials
in
almost
every
town
as
I
travel
around
Massachusetts,
almost
every
town.
You
see
a
memorial
for
over
one
most
people
passed
by
it
every
day.
G
Someone
I
lost
someone,
I
love
has
gone
away
and
life
is
not
the
same.
The
greatest
gifts
that
you
can
give
is
just
to
speak.
Their
name
I
need
to
hear
the
stories
and
the
tales
of
days
gone
past.
I
need
for
you
to
understand.
These
memories
must
last
will
never
make
more
memories,
since
they
are
no
longer
here.
So
when
you
say
their
name
to
me,
it's
music
to
my
ear
again
que.
H
Llamo
CIU
la
Vida
messy
one
oregano
mas
grande
que
puedas
bad,
is
deceased.
Nombre
necesitas
cuchara
historia
y
los
cuento
steadiest
pasados
necesito
que
comprende
estas
memoria
tienen
que
agarrar
nunca
Ramos
mess
laborious
test,
entonces
John,
esta
aqui
hasta
que
cuando
me
dice
su
nombre
es
musica
para.
A
Thank
You
Deniz.
It
is
my
pleasure
now
to
introduce
the
secretary
Secretary
of
Veteran
services
before
I.
Do
that
I
would
encourage
any
folks
and
family
members
and
volunteers
are
participating
in
the
flag
planning
exercise
to
make
your
way
to
the
designated
area.
The
name
readers,
of
course,
are
where
they
are
the
flag
Flanders.
Any
of
you
we're
over
there
under
the
tent
could
make
your
way.
But
at
this
point
I'd
like
to
introduce
the
Secretary
of
Veteran
services
for
the
Commonwealth
of
Massachusetts,
Francisco
Ewing.
I
I
The
roll
call
of
names
are
for
every
husband,
wife,
son
daughter,
father
brother
sister,
aunt
uncle
niece,
nephew,
cousin
grandchild,
neighbor
and
friend,
who
voluntarily
answered
the
call
of
duty
since
September
11
2001
by
putting
on
an
armed
services
uniform
and
giving
their
life
in
service
to
our
country.
It
is
through
traditions
such
as
the
reading
of
these
names
that
we
fulfill
and
vow
to
remember
an
honor.
I
Their
ultimate
sacrifice
today,
and
always
please,
remain
silent,
remain
seated
as
I
call
forth
the
dear
families
and
friends
of
our
brave
heroes
to
read
the
names
of
their
loved
ones
as
we
plant
these
flags
in
their
honor
completing
this
year's
Memorial
Day
flag
garden
tribute.
May
we
live
our
lives
worthy
of
their
sacrifice.
Thank
you.
C
AO
AP
I
C
K
K
So
we
ask
you
to
remember
with
them
families
we
invite
you
back
to
the
John
F
Kennedy
Library,
for
your
lunch
and
I
know
you
have
information
about
the
shuttles
that
will
take
you
there
and
we
invite
the
public
to
come
and
pay
tribute
and
to
come
back
on
Monday
at
six
o'clock
if
you'd
like
to
help
remove
the
flags.
Thank
you
for
joining
us.