WILMINGTON, MA — The Wilmington Department of Veterans Services held a flagpole dedication ceremony this past Saturday, September 14, 2019, in front of Silver Lake.
The flagpole was donated and installed by Rapiscan Systems of Andover, formerly Morpho Detections of Wilmington. Rapiscan specializes in walk-through metal detectors and x-ray machines at airports. The company’s Events Committee Chair — Marcy Morse — a veteran and Wilmington resident — facilitated the donation.
The flagpole is a memorial to all those who passed on September 11, 2001 and the fallen heroes who have served in the military since the 9/11 attacks. It is located on the Route 38 side of the lake, near three memorial stones and the Silver Lake sign.
Selectman Greg Bendel and Director of Veterans Services Lou Cimaglia offered powerful remarks during the 30-minute ceremony.
“One of the things I’m most proud of as a member of this community is when you drive around town, you don’t have to look very far to find a memorial for a fallen hero or commemorating a particular time in our history,” Selectman Chair Greg Bendel told the crowd. “The various veteran memorials on our common and at the intersections of our roads are just one of example. The playground across the lake for Sean Collier is another. The 9/11 memorial that was constructed largely in part by the students and staff at Wilmington High School is [one more].”
“If you go into various town buildings in our community, you’ll notice memorials and dedications,” continued Bendel. “What that comes to mind today is the memorial when you walk inside the Public Safety Building that commemorators two fallen fire fighters who lost their lives fighting a fire right here are Silver Lake 84 years ago on September 11, 1927. Firefighter Russell Pratt and Firefighter Wilbur Sheldon lost their lives while saving others.”
“This flagpole is our newest addition to the town’s memorial roster. It stands tall and proud,” concluded Bendel. “I urge you all in joining me to take a moment to pause and reflect. Not only on each September 11, but everyday in between, and when you visit Silver Lake, or drive by on Main Street, take a glance over at the flag and pause, reflect and remember. This flag will help us never forget. Wilmington will never forget.”
“I want to tell you a story,” began Veterans Director Lou Cimaglia. “There was a young man going to Lowell Catholic High School. He was a standout football star. He got a scholarship from the University of Maine to play football. But after the events of 9/11, he felt – in his heart – he had to serve. So John Landry joined the army, and he was a standout in that too. This young man was born on Christmas Day, he deployed on Halloween, and he was killed on St. Patrick’s Day… We’re here, in front of the John F. Landry Jr. monument, I think it’s so fitting that we now have a flag pole at our little memorial park.”
“Wilmington does not forget. And this flag will fly unapologetically. Year-round. In the snow. In the rain. In the wind. In the night,” added Cimaglia. “We will never forget the events of 9/11. We will never forget those who served and who are serving our country. We can’t forget. We can’t forget about Gold Star families like that of Ronald Eaton’s… Wilmington will never forget. I’m so proud of Wilmington for so many reasons. And this is just another reason.”
The dedication ceremony also featured remarks from Deputy Fire Chief Bill Cavanaugh, Deputy Police Chief Brian Pupa, State Senator Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester), State Representative Dave Robertson (D-Tewksbury), and Dan Burns, a Quality Technical Engineer at Rapiscan Systems.
Watch the 30-minute ceremony, courtesy of Wilmington Community Television, below:
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