More than 150 Methuen residents gathered Saturday morning to respect Purple Heart recipients during a ceremony at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8349 in Methuen.
Methuen joined area communities in becoming a Purple Heart City and will hold Purple Heart Day every year on Aug. 7. Methuen also becomes part of the “Purple Heart Trail,” a “national network of roads, bridges, highways and other monuments and trails honoring soldiers who have received a Purple Heart.” Methuen veteran Gerry Maguire and at-large City Councilor Jessica Finocchiaro worked to get approval through the Military Order of the Purple Heart.
“As signs go up this year designating Methuen as a Purple Heart Community, please honor it in your own way, some examples might be making sure all of the young folks you know understand what the Purple Heart medal means to our country’s warriors or, better yet, identify if you have any Purple Heart veterans in your life and honor their sacrifice with friendship or honoring their memory, or every time you pass by a sign say a prayer for Purple Heart veterans and their families,” Finocchiaro said.
A committee representing the VFW Post 8349 and American Legion Post 122 organized the morning of recognition and honor and, together, raised the funds for the signs. Committee members who worked on the morning of recognition and honor included VFW Post 8349 Commander Kurt Williams, American Legion Post 122 Commander John Dowd, David O’Neil, Chairman Gerry Maguire, Edward Dion, Edward Curran and Methuen City Councilors Mike Simard and Finocchiaro.
Maguire noted, “The road to freedom is paved with Purple Hearts.” West District City Councilor Mike Simard added, “It’s only fitting that we honor our Methuen veterans who served our country, with the oldest U.S. military award. The Purple Heart recipients deserve it.”
The guest speaker was U.S. Army Command Sergeant Major and Purple Heart recipient James Carabello. The Methuen Rangers JROTC color guard posted the colors and Methuen High School student Ella MacLaren sang the national anthem and led the room joining together to sing God Bless America.