Methuen Police were the victors in a friendly rivalry with the Methuen Fire Department, raising nearly $6,000 for the upcoming and first-ever Methuen Field of Honor.
The real winners are veterans in need who will be helped with the money raised to support the Office of Veterans Services. As WHAV reported earlier, The Methuen Field of Honor will see American flags flying in front of Nevins Library A ceremony kicks off the display Saturday, Oct. 2, at 9, the launch of the Fourth Annual Methuen Day.
Veterans Service Officer Paul Jensen suggested the competition between the fire and police departments to see who could raise the most money to support the city’s goal of recognizing the nearly 5,000 veterans who live in Methuen. In a recent interview over WHAV, Jensen explained.
“We have a wonderful location, a big sprawling lawn in front of Nevins Library, right on Broadway, and we also have our Methuen Day activities coming up on Oct. 2, so why don’t we do a Field of Honor in front of Nevins Library. We’ll do it the first week of October, so if people are coming by on that Saturday for Methuen Day, they’ll see the Field of Honor. The flags will remain on the lawn for one week, and after your flag has flown a week you can come back on Sunday and pick up your flag,” Jensen said.
Interim Methuen Police Chief Randy Haggar said officers were authorized to grow well-kept beards or facial hair until Sunday, Oct. 10, if they made a $100 pledge to the Field of Honor. He also offered to extend the facial hair deadline to Nov. 30 if the force raised more money than the Fire Department. Haggar went on to up the offer, promising to personally purchase a grill for the department to hold comradery-building cookouts.
In response, Jensen made a donation in the name of the Methuen Police Department to honor the 13 service members killed in Afghanistan last month and support their families.
As for the rest of Methuen Day, East District Methuen Councilor Eunice D. Zeigler, who founded the event in 2018, told WHAV listeners what they can expect.
“It’s going to be on Hampshire Street and Lowell Street. The streets will be closed off for folks to come down and enjoy. We’re going to have over 60 vendors there—artisans, local nonprofits, and city departments will be represented such as the Health Department, Inspectional Services Department and will also have a food truck row,” she said.