Haverhill native Chris Manning is the current Commander of American Legion Post 4 in Haverhill, Massachusetts. Chris grew up in Haverhill, one of twelve children, his three brothers all served in the US Military. His dad served in the South Pacific during World War II, as a Machinist Mate First Class. His older brother […]
By John Cuddy LAWRENCE – Lawrence High School Alum Guy Curtis, Class of 1967, like many incoming Freshmen, wanted to play football for Lawrence High School. His family doctor would not approve him playing high school sports. Five years later, in 1968, the US Air Force cleared him medically for military service in Southeast Asia. […]
By: Sam Concemi, Paul Concemi & Paul Salafia 7/23 World War II was the greatest tragedy in the history of mankind. Violence spread over all the inhabited continents, nearly every nation was involved, either as a combatant or as a victim. It is estimated that at least 35 million people perished, the exact number may […]
By: John Cuddy – 7/23 Lawrence’s James George Hajjar, was born in Brooklyn, New York, and grew up in the Plains neighborhood in Lawrence, a community of Lebanese, Sicilian, and Irish, a few blocks northwest of Campagnone Common, named after three Lawrence brothers, who were killed in the Normandy Campaign of World War II. James […]
7-23 Randy Carter and Jason Gilbert from Clear Path for Veterans New England (in Devens) held a public meeting at the Methuen VFW last month to announce a $205,000 grant to service veterans in Lawrence, Methuen, and Haverhill. Clear Path’s announcement came at just the right time with the closing of Veterans Northeast Outreach (VNOC) […]
By: John Cuddy 6-23 HAVERHILL – During World War II, Haverhill’s Ed Girroir enlisted in the US Army after Pearl Harbor, with most of his friends doing the same. He served as a Paratrooper with the US Army, in the European Theatre. He was on Active duty, from 1944 to 1946, assigned to the 517th […]
6-23 Kane had the honor of accompanying Raymond Brunelle to Arlington National Cemetery to visit the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier as well as visit the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Kane found the experience to be very humbling. Kane learned that Raymond Brunelle is no stranger to serving his country and local citizens of the Merrimack […]
By: John Cuddy – 05-23 Despite the fact that I arrived with a two-pound box of Tripoli’s cookies, ninety-nine-year-old US Army Veteran Salisbury’s Robert “Boots” Chouniard, spent a good part of our time together, on his rowing machine, vigorously working out. He walks a mile a day, rows, lifts weights, and travels worldwide. Boots spends […]
Every year, Valley Patriot publisher Tom Duggan holds an anniversary BASH to honor police officers, firefighters, veterans, and community activists, as well as to raise scholarship money for local high school seniors. “When we walked out of the room last year we had raised and given out $33,000 in scholarship money and that was […]
Each year the Valley Patriot gives out an Officer Tom Duggan, Sr. Hero Police Officer Award in honor of the former Lawrence Police Officer who was murdered in the line of duty in 1990. This year Methuen Sgt. Eric Deleon nominated Officers Schiavone and Keating to be recognized for their bravery, courage, and ability to […]
By: John Cuddy – 4-23 On Friday March 31st at the Annual Valley Patriot Bash, Scholarship and Award Night, Haverhill Police Officer Kevin Lynch was awarded the Master Chief John Ratka Hero Veteran Award! Interviewing US Navy Seabee and Haverhill Police Sergeant Kevin Lynch uncovered a family tradition of US Military Service. Kevin served as […]
By: John Cuddy 3-23 The president of Edgar J. Racicot Funeral Home, formerly in Lawrence Massachusetts, now operating in Dracut, Massachusetts, is Lawrence native and US Marine Veteran, Daniel Cotnoir. Operating since 1899, Racicot Funeral is one of the oldest businesses in continual operation in the Merrimack Valley. Although US Marine Dan Cotnoir, was featured […]
Ethel LaSalle, a World War II Army veteran who has donated more than 300 blankets to area veterans’ organizations over the years, was recently surprised on her 100th birthday by Methuen police, fire and city and state officials. Last month, officials said, the police department received a request for cards for LaSalle’s centennial. Methuen police […]
Each year, Run for The Troops 5K, holds a 5K Walk/Run and a community Dinner & Silent Auction to honor our veterans. In addition to funds these events raise awareness of the needs of our soldiers. The public often forgets the hard human cost for a few to maintain freedom for us all. In addition […]
By: John Cuddy – 02-23 US Navy Seabee Veteran and Andover resident Robert “Bob” Brown is the son of a US Military Veteran and Massachusetts firefighter. The Valley Patriot first met up with Bob Brown last year at a Chamber of Commerce function at Salvatore’s in Lawrence, Massachusetts. Bob and his staff helped write […]