Three New Memorials Dedicated for Medford’s Veterans

A long line of military service men and women posted the colors for the Pledge of Allegiance during Sunday’s memorial dedication ceremony.

Photos by Alex Svirsky.

– Allison Goldsberry

Medford men and women have been serving their country ever since the first intrepid Medfordites stood up to the British during the Boston Massacre.

Now, 16,000 of Medford’s bravest who served in wars that defined this century will forever be remembered at the memorials at Honor Roll Park.

There’s Tom Convery, Major, US Air Force and George White, Senior Chief Petty Officer, US Navy. Both are retired and both are veterans of three wars- World War II, Korea, and Vietnam.

Then there are the Fortunatos and Santoros. Two families, fifteen men. All fought in WWII and all came home safely.

Two years after the city dedicated a memorial bearing the names of 10,000 WWII veterans, three new memorials have been created to honor more veterans from that conflict as well as Korean and Vietnam War veterans.

“No city does more to honor its veterans than Medford,” said Congressman Edward Markey in a speech delivered at Sunday’s dedication ceremony.

US Senator John Kerry, a decorated Vietnam War veteran, praised Medford for honoring its residents who have served in the military.

“This city has always stood behind those who serve. This is a community that respects service,” said Sen. Kerry.

Sen. Kerry, the keynote speaker, said everyone should make it a priority to thank veterans for their service.

Mayor Michael McGlynn said Medford is grateful for the service of its brave men and women.

Mayor McGlynn asked all of the veterans and their families to stand so they could receive their much-deserved recognition for the sacrifices they made in serving their country.

“This is your day. Behind me is inscribed forever your legacy,” said Mayor McGlynn.

Truly, it was their day, as Medford put together a moving, memorable dedication ceremony complete with a Blackhawk helicopter, a Howitzer salute, and a 45 x 90 foot American flag, courtesy of the National Flag Exhibit.

The enormous flag hung by a crane and was unfurled by the 101st Field Artillery Unit of the Massachusetts National Guard and Operation Iraqi Freedom veterans.

The helicopter made its dramatic entrance about an hour before the ceremony, landing on the soccer field at Victory Park and giving residents a rare look inside the military chopper.

As for the memorials themselves, Mayor McGlynn calls them “Washington-esque” for their striking beauty and design.

The Vietnam War veterans’ memorial is very similar in its inverted “V” design to the renowned Vietnam Wall in Washington, DC.

The Korean War veterans’ memorial is rectangular in shape and has a bench parallel to it, a nod to the notable 38th parallel.

Finally, a memorial column in the center of a circular brick path, adorned with a golden eagle, lists the names of 303 WWII vets from Medford that served in the conflict but did not enlist from the city. The column will later list the names of those who served in the Desert Storm, Afghanistan, and Iraq conflicts.

American flags and mums were the finishing touches for the stunning memorials, with yellow mums planted to create a ribbon just off to the side of the Vietnam War memorial.

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See a photo slideshow of the event