One of the state’s top veterans leaders called on continued support for military veterans beyond Veterans Day during the Rotary Club of Haverhill’s Ninth Annual Veterans Breakfast last Thursday.
Veterans honored were Haverhill Firefighter Timothy Carroll, Carl Turner and David Triplett. In addition, Maureen Healy was presented with Rotary’s Service Award. Massachusetts Deputy Director of the Executive Office of Veterans Services, Brigadier General (Ret) Andrea Gayle-Bennett challenged those in attendance to “Remember our Veterans after Veterans Day, by continually looking for ways to support them and their families.”
“Veterans don’t serve alone, their families serve with them,” she added. Gayle-Bennett served in the Massachusetts Army National Guard for more than 35 years.
Veterans honored for their service to the country and community were Carroll, who served in the Air Force as a radio operator from 1993 to 1997 with tours in Saudi Arabia, Germany and Italy. He has been a volunteer with the Haverhill Junior Hillies Football program and a program called “Skate for 22,” providing veterans free ice time to honor the estimated 22 veterans that take their lives each day.
Also honored was Turner, who served in the U.S. Army as an infantry soldier from 1983 to 1985 in Germany. Turner is involved with many nonprofits in Haverhill including Team Haverhill’s “Clean and Green” efforts, Ruth’s House and Wreaths Across America.
Recognition also went to Triplett, who joined the U.S. Marines in 1978, where he became a corporal serving as a supply administration and operations specialist. Later he joined the Navy Reserve as an Aviation Storekeeper. Triplett is involved with mentoring children, teaching Bible studies and volunteering at the Merrimack Valley Hospice House to uplift veterans. He is currently commandant of the Haverhill Marine Corps League.
Since 2021, Healy has sewn and donated nearly 1,000 Christmas stockings filled with items for veterans and has led a sock drive resulting in the donation of more than 1,000 pairs of men’s socks to Ruth’s House. She comes from a family of veterans and is a direct descendent of Commodore John Barry, the first American naval officer commissioned by President George Washington and who is considered one of the fathers of the U.S. Navy.
The program opened with the Presentation of Colors by the Haverhill High School Marine Corps Junior ROTC led by First Sgt. David W. Grinstead, and the National Anthem was sung by Lila Combs, a junior at Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School, who also closed out the morning by leading with the singing of America the Beautiful.
The Annual Veterans Award Breakfast is a major fundraiser for the Haverhill Rotary Club. Sponsors were Haverhill Bank, Reworld, Pentucket Bank, Northern Essex Community College, James Page Insurance, Full Harvest Moonz, Beaton Management, Jordan Financial & Insurance Services, Anna Jaques Hospital and Servpro.