By: John Cuddy – June, 2021 NORTH ANDOVER – North Andover’s Louis McAloon served in the US Navy during the Vietnam War, enlisting shortly after graduating from North Andover High School. He completed Basic Training at the Naval Base Great Lakes with Recruit Company 190. After Basic, he was sent to Naval Air Station Memphis, […]
By Kane – May, 2021 Dana and Salvatore DeFranco, founder and owners of the Battle Grounds Coffee Company are no strangers to hard work and fostering a sense of community. While completing college, The DeFrancos hatched a shared vision and weaved a coffee shop into the fabric of the Haverhill community where patrons gather on […]
“The Governor “forgot” who he hired (Walsh) and a head had to roll, so he sent the Lawrence kid packing. Our purple Heart veteran Francisco Urena should certainly receive a public apology.” ~ State Senator Diana DiZoglio By: Tom Duggan – June 1, 2021 Massachusetts State Senator Diana DiZoglio (D-Methuen) is calling for a full […]
By: John Cuddy – May, 2021 Dracut’s Arthur Ducharme Sr. is a US Navy World War II Pacific Theater Veteran. He turned ninety-six on April 1st of this year. Arthur is the older brother of World War II Veteran, Joseph Alfred Ducharme, who served as a Military Police Officer at the Nuremburg trials in Germany […]
ANDOVER — A Quincy veteran now has a car he can drive to work, thanks to Greater Lawrence Tech and nonprofit Second Chance Cars. Superintendent John Lavoie, Second Chance Cars Executive Director Dan Holin, School Committee Member Marilyn Fitzgrald, car donor Luanne Goehring of Carlisle, Rep. Tami Gouveia of Acton, and others gathered on […]
By: John Cuddy – April, 2021 Dracut American Legion Executive Board Members US Army Veteran Chris “Scrubs” Coakley and US Air Force Veteran Stephen “Professor” O’Donnell are both also members of a patriotic motorcycle group known as the Nam Knights. During the summer of 1989, a small group of Harley Davidson riders, who were also […]
By: Eric Spagnoli Methuen Mayor Neil Perry had an uphill battle recently getting his pick for Veteran’s Services Officer approved by the city council. A majority of the council was initially against the appointment of Paul Jensen after veteran groups in the city spoke out against his nomination. During the meeting however, Perry was able […]
LATHAM, NY -Major General Ray Shields, the Adjutant General for the State of New York, announces the recent promotion of members of the New York Army National Guard in recognition of their capability for additional responsibility and leadership. Alex Barreras from Lawrence, Mass., and assigned to the 1569th Transportation Company received a promotion to the […]
By: John Cuddy – March, 2021 North Andover’s Jack Garvin graduated from North Andover High, where he played football and captained the track team. He also served on the student council. Later, he attended Northern Essex Community College. After graduating from Northern Essex, he was drafted into the US Army, during the Vietnam War. He completed […]
By: Kane – Feb. 2021 Kane felt privileged to tour Clear Path for Veterans New England to learn about the numerous ways the program assists Veterans in building upon their many strengths to create a well lived and balanced life, after honoring their country in the military. The program provides direct and indirect programs and services […]
By: John Cuddy – Feb, 2021 This is our third US Navy Seabee, who after serving in the Navy, became a police officer. Tom Murphy Jr. is a retired Lawrence Police Officer, who later retired from the Merrimack College Police Department as well. He grew up across the street from my father Jim, and my […]
“A Camping Trip with Automatic Weapons” By: John Cuddy “A camping trip with automatic weapons”, is how Hyde Park native and Boston Police Officer James LaCroix described his service in Bosnia with the US Navy Seabees as an Equipment Operator 3rd Class. James is not the only family member who served in the US Navy, […]
Clear Path for Veterans New England would like to congratulate our Volunteer of the Month for November 2020, Randy Carter. Thank you to WPKZ Radio for hosting our Volunteer of the Month Awards, along with the following sponsors: Olympic Trophy (Worcester) and Harvard Outdoor Power Equipment. Randy will receive a gift and a plaque for […]
By: John Cuddy – Dec. 2020 Retired New York City Police Officer, John Joseph Ratomski, tried to enlist in the Marine Corps the year after Pearl Harbor, in December of 1942. Joe, as he was known to his friends, was found to be color blind, and the Marines rejected him for this reason. The US […]
UPDATED 12-31-20 Sources at Veterans North East Outreach Center, (VNEOC) – a nonprofit in Haverhill – say that Executive Director Ed Mitchell, was fired this morning after months of turmoil at the organization. Mitchell is the former Veterans’ Services Officer in North Andover and was brought in to VNOEC after the passing of founder John […]