By: John Cuddy – Jan. 2022 After graduating from Lowell High School with the Class of 1965, Lowell’s Barry Kuntz enlisted in the US Air Force. Asked why? He replied, “I felt the Air Force suited me best.” After completing US Air Force Basic Training in San Antonio, Texas, Barry was assigned to McGuire AFB […]
Takes Advantage of the Massachusetts Brace Act, Providing Tax Relief for Gold Star Families of Lawrence Tuesday, February 1, 2022 Statement Regarding by Former City Councilor Dave Abdoo Regarding the Lawrence City Council’s Favorable Passage and Enactment of Agenda No. 276/21 “Gold Star Family Tax Exemption” exempting Gold Star families within our Lawrence community […]
Legislation would designate the last Monday of September as “Gold Star Families Day” Bill Text (PDF) Washington, D.C. – United States Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), members of the Senate Armed Services Committee, introduced Gold Star Families Day Act, legislation that would dedicate the last Monday in September as a federal holiday in observance and […]
NEWBURYPORT — Chief Christopher LeClaire is pleased to report that the Tunnel to Towers Foundation — a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting first responders, veterans, and their families — has paid in full the mortgage on the home of fallen Newburyport Firefighter Brett Burkinshaw. Firefighter Burkinshaw, who served his community for nearly […]
A neglected chapter of World War II has been recalled in Old Orchard Beach with the donation and prominent display of a flag honoring the memory of a U.S. Merchant Marine from Massachusetts. As a boy growing up in Lawrence, Massachusetts, Old Orchard Beach resident Dave Twomey lived upstairs from his uncle and […]
By: Kane – Nov. 2021 Kane has been busy this month pulling out the history books and doing research on the origins of Veterans Day. He was surprised by the number of twists and turns the holiday has taken since it’s recognition in 1926 under the name, Armistice Day. In fact, the conception of what […]
By: John Cuddy – Nov. 2021 WESTPORT, MA -I met Pam Melanson and her father Rene “Cap” Parent at the Wheelhouse Diner in Quincy, Massachusetts on a beautiful Saturday morning. Pam, who hails from Westport, MA, served our Nation in the US Navy Reserves for over fifteen years. She was called up on active duty […]
By: John Cuddy – Oct. 2o21 Lawrence native Arthur Goulet attended St Anne’s Grammar School and graduated from Lawrence High School with the Class of 1955. Shortly after finishing high school, he joined the US Navy. He completed Military Basic Training at the U.S. Navy Training Center at Port Deposit, Maryland, more commonly known in […]
Sept. 2021 ARMY SPECIALIST DONALD JARVIS Haverhill resident Donald Jarvis was awarded the Purple Heart last month from injuries sustained over nine years ago in Afghanistan. Army Specialist Donald Jarvis was injured when an improvised explosive device (IED) struck his vehicle. As a combat engineer, the mission of his unit was to conduct route clearance in […]
By: John Cuddy – Sept. 2021 US Army Veteran Dave Pelletier is from Salem, New Hampshire, and is now living in Haverhill, Massachusetts. After Dave withdrew from Woodbury High and served a short sentence in a reform school in Manchester, he started working at Superior Shoe. While at Superior, he enlisted in the US Army. […]
9-22-21 BOSTON – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts announced an agreement today with PRTaylor Enterprises LLC, a company doing business as Father & Son Moving & Storage (Father & Son), to resolve allegations that it violated the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) by failing to obtain a court order before auctioning […]
PDF of the September, 2021 Valley Patriot Edition #215 HELP US KEEP THE NEWS FREE!
By: John Cuddy – Aug. 2021 Dracut’s Bob and Jeanette (Jenny) Iby, celebrated their 75th Wedding Anniversary on July 4, 2021. Married on July 4, 1946, after Bob finished his tour with the US Army Air Corp, as a Bombardier on a B-17 Flying Fortress. The couple attended high school together in Burlington, VT, and […]
Valley Patriot Mascot, Kane August, 2021 Kane knows Representative Colleen Garry. In fact, she is known by many as a strong supportive advocate of the medical front line workers, veterans, police officers, firefighters, EMS, and other first responders. What does she do that is so unique? Well, Kane says she does the most important thing […]
Christina Shea Hogan of North Andover recently graduated from the United States Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) at Kings Point, NY. Hogan earned a Bachelor of Science degree and a commission in the U. S. armed forces. She also earned a Merchant Marine officer license, qualifying her to serve as an officer on any ship in […]