Tewksbury recognized deceased service members in a ceremony on Monday.
“As time passes, I worry about our sense of history,” said Select Board chair Todd Johnson in his opening remarks. “And whether our society today truly appreciates the heroism and sacrifices of our veterans. I think of the young men who repulsed the Nazi juggernaut rolling across Europe and those who died on the mountain sides of the Philippine Islands in World War II. I think of those who jumped from a troop ship into chest-high water and ran into withering fire on the beaches of Normandy.
“I think about veterans of the Korean War, which too often has been referred to as ‘The Forgotten War,’ and how the conflict accounts of our soldiers in the frozen fields of Korea will not let you forget their sacrifices. I think about troops who walked down a jungle trail in Vietnam, not knowing if their next footstep would be on a landmine. Not knowing if a hand grenade would explode when they brushed a tree branch aside. Yet they all answered the call of service. I think of the many who have served overseas over the past 20 years in Iraq and Afghanistan, to protect our nation and our freedom. I think of them all, on a day like this, and I know there are no words to adequately express the honor and respect they so deserve.”
“As chairman of the Tewksbury Select Board and on behalf of all of the elected and appointed officials present today, I am honored to represent the town and to express our gratitude for the military service of those who gave it all and to every veteran who stands with us here today. To each of them I say, God bless you,” said Johnson.
Lorna Garey
Lorna is a U.S. Army veteran and 25-year resident of Tewksbury who has written for organizations ranging from the DIA to InformationWeek to a free weekly in New London that sent her to interview the pastry chef at Foxwoods.
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