Four days of ceremonies in honor of Vietnam veterans to highlight The Wall That Heals display

Published August 15, 2019

By MAUREEN DOHERTY

NORTH READING — If you think the town’s Veterans’ Services Department outdid itself arranging for a police and motorcycle escort of the 18-wheeler as it delivered the “The Wall That Heals” to Ipswich River Park Tuesday afternoon, wait until you see the lineup of festivities Veterans’ Director Susan Magner and her team have planned Thursday through Sunday.

The enthusiastic public greeting of the motorcade as it wound its way along the route from Concord Street to Park Street and across Main Street to Central Street was designed as a mini welcome home parade to generate excitement for and interest in the Wall’s arrival and subsequent display today through Sunday.

It was to take a small army of volunteers about eight hours on Wednesday to set up the three-quarter scale 375-foot replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. The Wall’s presence so close to home provides a publicly accessible means for the  community-at-large to recognize the struggles suffered by so many Vietnam veterans and to honor those whose lives were lost. By bringing their grief out of the shadows they may finally experience the relief that comes from no longer suffering in silence.

As of the soft opening Wednesday afternoon, the site in the meadow area of Ipswich River Park will be lit and open to everyone free of charge 24/7 through Sunday afternoon, August 18.

No dogs allowed

Magner stressed that out of respect for this solemn space no dogs, other than service dogs, will be allowed near the Wall; nor will any food or beverages.

Plenty of volunteers will be on hand to assist visitors in locating their loved ones’ names on the wall and they will also assist with rubbings using special paper and pencil. Magner also encourages visitors of all ages to stop by the Wall’s Mobile Education Center which teaches key facts about the war itself. The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, which maintains the Wall in the nation’s capitol, is also responsible for creating this traveling model.

North Reading is one of only two towns in Massachusetts lucky enough to host The Wall That Heals this year. The Wall travels to 34 communities per year. All are welcome to give the nation’s surviving Vietnam War vets the “welcome home” that they were denied half a century ago as visitors join them in remembering the more than 58,000 Americans whose lives are memorialized on the Wall.

Magner added that high school students in need of community service hours are welcome to stop by and lend a hand. Paperwork will be signed confirming their assistance. They may sign up online by going to: https://bit.ly/31yQPuD.

The town has planned a special ceremony each day at 6 p.m. – Thursday through Saturday – with closing ceremonies Sunday at 2 p.m. The volunteer breakdown crew will start to work at 3 p.m. and at least 30 people will be needed.

The schedule is as follows:

THURSDAY, AUGUST 15

The Wall That Heals — POW/MIA ceremony, 6 p.m.:

• Master of Ceremonies Susan Magner, Veterans’ Director

• Presentation of Colors: U.S. Navy Honor Guard

• National Anthem: Kerrin Mullen

• Invocation: Rev. Dr. Richard A. Hughes, Union Congregational Church.

•  POW/MIA Missing Man Table Ceremony and Drill Presentation by the Lynn English JROTC Marine Corps Cadets, directed by Capt. Steve Castinetti, U.S.N. (retired) and Sergeant Major Ken Oswald

• Local Guest Speaker: Select Board member Andrew Schultz

• Honored Guest Speaker: Sen. Bruce Tarr

• Roll Call: Local Vietnam Veterans KIA, including three young men from North Reading who paid the ultimate sacrifice: Sgt. Eugene R. Moreau (1966), Lance Cpl. Jimmie M. Couto (1968), and S1/4 Daniel D. Callahan (1968). The names of servicemen and women from area communities will also be read.

• In Memory Vietnam Veterans: A special memorial tribute to Vietnam veterans lost to war-related wounds or illnesses, such as the effects of Agent Orange or PTSD.

• Volley followed by Taps: North Reading Minit & Militia.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 16

Welcome Home Ceremony — 6 p.m.:

• Master of Ceremonies: Michael Gilleberto, Town Administrator

• Presentation of Colors: USMC – USN – USCG – USANG – USAF

• National Anthem: Ayla Brown, American Idol runner-up

• Invocation: Bishop Mark O’Connell, Pastor, St. Theresa Church

• Guest Speakers: Select Board member Richard Wallner; State Rep. Brad Jones Jr., House Minority Leader; and Vietnam Veteran Richard Stratton

• Honored Guest Speakers: State Director of Veterans’ Services Secretary Francisco Urena; and CCMSgt Michelle O’Keefe, USANG

• Presentation to Vietnam Veterans and Gold Star Families; Rose presentation to “In Memory Families”

• Volley: North Reading Minit & Militia

• Taps

SATURDAY, AUGUST 17

Candlelight Vigil, 6 p.m.:

• U.S. Navy Ceremonial Band, 6-7 p.m.

• Master of Ceremonies: Susan Magner, Veterans’ Director

• Presentation of Colors: Marine Corps 25th Regiment

• National Anthem: U.S. Navy Band

• Invocation: Rev. Rachel Fisher, Pastor, Aldersgate Church

• Local Governmental Speaker: Select Board Chair Kathryn Manupelli

• Honored Guest Speaker: Col. Matthew J. Kennedy, U.S. Army

• Candle lighting

• Amazing Grace: Fire Fighters Bag Pipers

• Taps

SUNDAY, AUGUST 18

Closing Ceremony, 2 p.m.:

• Master of Ceremonies: Michael Gilleberto, Town Administrator

• Presentation of Colors: North Reading Police Honor Guard

• God Bless America: Cassidy Nichols

• Invocation: Rev. Dr. Richard A. Hughes, Union Congregational Church

• Farewell Remarks: Susan Magner, Veterans’ Director

• Taps

• Breakdown of Wall commences at 3 p.m. (Extra help is needed; high school students needing community service hours welcome to inquire at: https://bit.ly/31yQPuD)