Wilmington Director Of Veterans Services Lou Cimaglia To Retire This Week

WILMINGTON, MA — After more than 20 years on the job, Wilmington’s longtime Director of Veterans Services Lou Cimaglia is retiring this week.

Cimaglia — a veteran himself of the first Gulf War — has dedicated the past two decades of his professional and personal life to helping Wilmington’s veterans and their families.

Prior to his appointment to the Veterans’ Agent position back in November 2005 by retired Town Manager Mike Caira, Cimaglia founded Local Heroes, a local non-profit which — over the course of nine years — shipped 17,000 care packages to active duty members of the U.S. military.

The New England Patriots recognized Cimaglia’s work with Local Heroes in 2012, naming him the Myra Kraft Community MVP Award and providing his organization a $25,000 grant.

Named “Veterans Agent of the Year” by the Massachusetts Department of Veterans Services in 2012, Cimaglia is well-respected by veterans agents across the state, often providing guidance and offering assistance when other communities’ veterans departments are in need.

The recipient of the 2006 Wilmington Good Guy Award, and runner-up to Congressman Seth Moulton’s Peter J. Gomes Service Award in 2016, Cimaglia is frequently praised recognized for his integrity, compassion, and commitment to his community.

Cimaglia also served three terms on the Wilmington Select Board (2007-2016) and stepped up as Interim Town Manager from December 2023 to June 2024.

If you’d like to thank Lou for his service before Friday, email veterans@wilmingtonma.gov or call his office at 978-694-2040.