By: John Cuddy – December, 2019 Marshall Rogers Sr. was born in 1921 on his family dairy farm in North Andover, MA. He was the second youngest of nine children. He claims to have walked over 3,000 miles as a child while going to school in North Andover making two round trips per day, going […]
By: John Cuddy – November, 2019 Haverhill’s Gerard Boucher joined the US Marine Corp to avoid getting drafted by the US Army. On the wall of his home sits a Bronze Star and three Purple Hearts, so he certainly picked an unusual way to avoid the draft. Talking to Gerard and his close friend Carolyn […]
If you’re reading this column, please thank a veteran for making it possible. Since our country’s founding nearly 250 years ago, our veterans have fought to protect and defend all our rights, including freedom of speech, at home and abroad. Some veterans, including those who served in the Vietnam War, are still fighting painful memories […]
By: John Cuddy -Oct.2019 Dracut’s Pat Walor was born on his family’s farm in Peabody, Massachusetts in 1923 – the second youngest of eleven children. His father was a dirt farmer (Pat’s own description of a vegetable farmer). He recalls his weekly trips into Faneuil Hall in Boston to sell their vegetables on commission. A […]
By: John Cuddy – Sept. 2019 Our fifty-five heroes came from Lowell, Chelmsford, Dracut, and throughout the Merrimack Valley. They brought their families with them and were honored by the Town of Dracut, led by Town Manager James Duggan, the Massachusetts Secretary of Veterans’ Affairs US Marine Corp Veteran Francisco Urena, and the Consular General […]
Devon Michael Brantmuller graduated from Salem, NH, High School on June 12, 2015. He then enlisted in the United States Marines and left for Paris Island (Boot Camp) on November 30, 2015. Brantmuller started as PFC and was promoted to Lance Corporal 1 in November of 2016. He was again promoted to Corporal 1 in […]
By: John Cuddy – August, 2019 Living throughout the Merrimack Valley, with his family during his adult life, originally from Lynn, Massachusetts, Robert was born on July 17, 1926 and is a graduate of Lynn English High School. He served in the US Army in the European Theater during the Second World War with the […]
SALALAH, OMAN – Seaman Michael Hernandez, from Lawrence, MA, heaves line aboard the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Bainbridge (DDG 96) while pulling into port. Bainbridge is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operation in support of naval operations to ensure maritime stability and security in the Central Region, connecting the Mediterranean and […]
LAWRENCE , METHUEN – Lawrence’s Anthony De Fusco 97, and Methuen’s Henry Hyder 92, did not know each other until they both recently moved into the same assisted living facility, Methuen Village. However, they share a common bond, both men served on Iwo Jima during World War II. Henry with the Naval Construction Battalions, also […]
By John Cuddy – June, 2019 Lawrence’s Angus MacPherson, better known as Mac, was originally from South Boston with fond memories of growing up there and especially of hanging out with his four brothers and many close friends on the corner of E and 5th streets. Sensing that the war was coming to America, […]
By: John Cuddy – May, 2019 Memorial Day does not belong to the Republicans, the Democrats, or any elected official. It is not intended for honoring the men and women currently serving in the military or our Veterans. Memorial Day belongs to the six American Heroes written about in this article, and all who gave […]
By: Rep. Linda Dean Campbell, April, 2019 As a Veteran, I am honored to have been appointed as House Chair of the Joint Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs for this session and to have the opportunity to work on legislation that will improve services and care for those who have served. My first order […]
By: John Cuddy – April, 2019 Chelmsford’s Mike Miskell, like many of the men and women who served during World War II, formed a lifelong friendship with another soldier they served with during the war. Mike was with York, Pennsylvania’s George Meanor, a Technical Sargent in his unit, the US Army’s 217th Artillery. The two […]
By: John Cuddy – March, 2019 Lawrence’s Kasper Kfoury was present at two of the most iconic events that took place during the twentieth century in the United States. He, his brother and some friends took a train to New York’s Yankee Stadium on July 4, 1939, and they were sitting in the stands when […]
Congratulations are in order for Airman First Class, Travis W. Hirst, of Methuen MA, for his successful completion and graduation of Basic Military Training with the United States Air Force, achieved on February 7th, 2019. A1C Hirst trained with Flight 157 of the 323rd Training Squadron, at JBSA Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, […]