Veterans’ Day 2015. What does Veterans’ Day mean to a Vet.

I asked Dave Emerton, one of our Vets from the Class of 1965 to make a comment on what Veterans’ Day meant to him.  He replied:

“I am a veteran of the Vietnam War.   I served with the 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division from February, 1967, to March, 1968.  I am extremely proud to have served my country even when many citizens of this country turned away from this war.

As I get older, my appreciation of all the Veterans who served our country in time of need only grows.  Each year when I go to Pine Grove Cemetery to flag the graves of my father, brother and uncles who served our country in time of war, I think of all the hardships and sacrifices they made to keep our country safe and to allow their children and grandchildren to grow and prosper in this great country.

This nation now has over 21 million veterans.  From World War II to Afghanistan, these men and women have given up a number of years of their lives to serve our country.  Every one of us knows a friend, relative or neighbor who has proudly served in our military.  This November, thank a veteran for his/her service.  They will appreciate it.”

I thank Dave for his heartfelt comments on what Veterans Day means to him.  I do hope each of us can share his feelings in some small measure.  To Dave and to all the other veteran members of the class of 1965, and for that matter, to all veterans: Thank you for your service and welcome home.

The members of the ROTC group at LEHS have invited members of the class of 1965, especially veterans, to join them at an exhibition at the LEHS gym in the Paul Cavanagh Field House at 6:45 PM on Tuesday, November 10.  Cake and refreshments will be served and admission is free.

I do hope all our classmates take a few moments to say thank you to all the vets especially our classmates who sacrificed so much so that we can enjoy the freedom we have today.  Please click on the word “comment” below and add your personal message to our vets.

If you are a member of the class of 1965 and are a vet and don’t see your name below, please click HERE and send me a message and I will add it as soon as I see your message.  If you know of a vet who served our country and was a member of the class of 1965 who is not listed below, please let me know.

Lynn English High School’s Class of 1965 Veterans include:

Donald Baillie Naval Reserves

William Berkson  Army

Frederick Bollen Army

Robert Bonin Marine Reserves

Richard Bowlby Navy Reserves

Kevin Buchanan  Army

Richard Burke Army

Howard Burnett Army National Guard

Tom Cahill  Army

Roger Caldwell Navy

Richard Callahan Navy

James Cogen Marines

Anthony Colangelo  Army Reserve

John Collier Army

Harry Corson  Army

Ralph Cronin  Army

Don Cyr  Navy

Tom Devine  Marines

John Donovan  Army

Brian Doucette Navy

Donald Ellis  Air Force

David Emerton Marines

Tom Fabrizio Air Force

Bruce Fisher  National Guard

Lawrence Flanagan Air Force (died while serving in Texas)

Arthur William “Bill” Fogarty Army

Ronald Gerstenhaber Air Force

Thomas Gillis  Navy

John Gotimer Navy

Reverand Arlyne Grant Army Reserves

Norman Grant Marines (killed in action in Vietnam)

Donald Hamel  Navy

Mark Hammond Coast Guard

Robert Hartshorn Navy

Robert Johanson Army

Jim Lampes Mass Army National Guard

Allan Leavitt  Army

Peter Lelecas  Air Force

Lester Libby Army Reserves

Wayne Livermore  Army

Richard Lorette  Navy

John MacDonald Air Force

John Martin  Air Force

John McCarthy  Army

Walter Mehm Navy

James Middleton  Army

Robert Muller Army

Haig Nalbandian Air Force

Paul Nardone Air Force

Ralph Nelson  Army

William Nelson  Army Reserve

Robert Newhall Army

Stephen Noone  Army Reserve

Kevin O’Connor  Air Force

Richard Olson  Navy

John O’Neil Air Force

Albert Paradis Army

John Pension Navy

Leland Perry Army

Edward Pettipas  Navy

Bruce Phillips Navy

James Prendergast NH Army National Guard

James Prunier Air Force and Army National Guard

Robert Reed Army

John Reppucci Navy

Michael Rodgers Army

Anna-Marie (Ruth) Frederick  Air Force

David Santos Navy

Charles Sarcia Army Aviation

Donald Scanlon Air force-National Gard-Marines

David Schulze Air Force

Michael Schulze Navy

John Sewell  Navy

Frank Simone  Air Force

John Sonia  Navy

Christo Stratos Navy

John Sturgis Army National Guard

Robert Tibbetts Army

John Warwick Army

Douglas Waters Army

Bradley Wentworth Army

Joe Whalen  Army

Paul Yacovitch Army

Francis York Navy