ATHOL – “I don’t know that there are any veterans alive that wouldn’t do it again,” said William Graziano, President of the Athol Veterans Council and Commander of the Edward H. Phillips American Legion Post 102 during the Veterans Day program on Monday.
Members of the American Legion Post 102 Honor Guard, rifle squad, and the Marine Corps Honor Guard, veterans, civilians and town officials honored veterans of the past and present during brief flag raising ceremonies at the Vietnam Veteran’s Park on Starrett Avenue, Phillips Park across from the Uptown Common, and at the VFW Park across from the YMCA, followed by a Veterans Day program in Memorial Hall at the Town Hall. William Kessler played “Taps” during the ceremonies.
During the flag raising at Phillips Park, a group of men working on a roof of a nearby house stopped to respectfully observe the ceremony as Pam McGrath and Elizabeth Mailloux placed a wreath next to the World War 1 monument, a firing salute by the American Legion Post 102 Honor Guard, and the raising of the flag by Ron Ferguson, Quartermaster of the VFW.
The program at the Town Hall began with the American Legion Post 102 Honor Guard presenting and posting the colors followed by The Pledge of Allegiance and an opening prayer offered by Reverend Edwin Montana, Pastor of Our Lady Immaculate Church.
Graziano welcomed Past Commander of the Disabled American Veterans, Alan Bowers, and town officials including Chairwoman of the Athol Selectboard, Rebecca Bialecki, Selectman and school committee member William Chiasson, Athol Fire Chief Joseph Guarnera and Athol Deputy Fire Chief Jeffrey Parker, veterans and their families.
The guest speaker was Athol resident Paul Dubey who was born in Philadelphia and grew up in Massachusetts. He enlisted in the United States Air Force in January 1967, attended boot camp and basic training and technical school in Texas, becoming an Airframe Repairman. He served a tour of duty in Vietnam and Thailand and received the National Defense Service Medal, the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal and the Vietnam Service Medal and was honorably discharged as a Sergeant E4 in 1971. He and his wife Vicki moved to Athol in 1990 where he worked for the U.S. Postal Service until retiring in 2008.
Dubey joined the Disabled American Veterans serving with Chapter 46 in Athol as commander for two years and working his way to the DAV Department of Massachusetts Commander in 2018.
He began by recognizing “all those among us who have been part of the great brotherhood and sisterhood we call the U.S. military – our veterans, active-duty service members, guardsmen and reservists. It is your service and sacrifice that has kept our country safe and free.”
He told the story of a soldier, Patt Maney who in 2005 was severely injured in an explosion 50 miles outside of Kabul and was helped by the DAV to get the veteran’s care he deserved. Six years later he started the very first Mental Health and Veterans Treatment Court in the state of Florida and pushed for the establishment of a Department of Veteran’s Affairs Vet Center in Florida and has helped homeless veterans. He received DAV’s Outstanding Disabled Veteran of the Year award, “an inspiration to disabled veterans everywhere, myself included,” Dubey said.
“Each one of us has our story to tell. Our own Alan Bowers (of Royalston) has recorded an published books on our local service men and women stories. If you haven’t recorded or written your personal story of military service, I encourage you to please do.”
Dubey said at the DAV, “we are in the business of not giving up the fight for veterans. We want everyone who served to lead high-quality lives with respect and dignity. That is a mission we live day in and day out. We will not leave a brother or sister behind.”
He thanked the audience for taking the time to remember our heroes. “They never gave up on us and we can’t give up on them. I ask you to please pause for a moment to think of those currently standing watch across the globe.”
Air Force veteran Toni Phillips, who served as Athol’s Veterans Agent for 10 years, president of the Athol Veterans Council for 20 years, and four years as Commander of the Edward H. Phillips Post 102, was presented with a plaque thanking her for her years of service.
Graziano said it has been a tradition on Veterans Day in Athol to recite a poem written by the late Gordon Briggs called “Remember the Veteran.” Lt. Briggs was a P-47 fighter pilot during World War II.
Following the placing of a wreath by members of the American Legion Auxilliary Unit 102, and playing of “Taps,” the closing prayer was offered by Peter Newman, Vice Commander and Chaplain for Legion Post 102. The Color Guard retired the colors.
AMVETS Post 793 served refreshments in Liberty Hall after the program.