By Beth David, Editor
Both Fairhaven and New Bedford will hold parades this Saturday, 11/11, in honor of Veterans Day. Acushnet will hold a ceremony on Saturday, and Fairhaven will hold flag raising and lowering ceremonies at Fort Phoenix.
In Acushnet
On Saturday, 11/11, at 9:30 a.m., meet at Town Hall for a Veterans Day ceremony.
Fairhaven Parade
In Fairhaven, the annual parade to honor all veterans is followed by a brief ceremony, including raising the “Big Flag” and cannon-firing in front of Fairhaven High School. Veterans and other marching groups are welcome to line up at Livesey Park at 8:30 a.m. Parade steps off at 9:00 a.m.
Veterans are asked to gather at Livesey Park behind Oxford School, 347 Main Street, Fairhaven, by 8:30 a.m. Parade steps off at 9 and marches along Main Street to Fairhaven High School for a short dedication and the raising of the big flag. Veterans who cannot march should go to the Senior/Recreation Center by 7:45 a.m., where transportation will be provided. Coffee and donuts for all veterans at the Senior Center until the vans leave for the parade. The Lions Club will provide free coffee and donuts at the North Fairhaven Improvement Association building in Benoit Square at 8 a.m.
Homeowners along the route are asked to display the US Flag. Spectators are asked to line the route and go to the High School to show their support.
New this year
At precisely 11:11, for one minute the bells of town buildings will ring as part of the Bells of Remembrance effort launched locally. Fairhaven and surrounding communities are participating in this effort.
Flag Raising
Join us for flag raising and lowering ceremonies on Veterans Day.
We will raise the flat on Sat., 11/11, at Fort Phoenix, at 8 a.m. in memory of 19 Fairhaven residents still listed as Missing in Action in WWI, WWII, and the Korean War: Adrian Ganter, killed in Battle of Somme in 1916, Canadian Army (attended FHS); Robert T. Atsatt, born in 1914, killed in action in 1944, US Army; Edward M. Benoit, born in 1923, killed in action in 1944, US Navy; George W. Breault, born in 1923, killed in 1942, US Navy Blackburn, North Fairhaven; Walter Coyne, Born in 1918, died when USS Sturtevant sank in 1942, US Navy; Theodore Ehrhardt, born in 1915, killed in action in June, 1943, US Army Air Corps; Walton K. Ellis, born in 1919, killed in action in June 1944, US Navy; Carleton Fielding, born in 1922, killed in action in June 1944, US Navy; Alfred W. Gault, unknown age, killed in action in 1943, US Navy; Rasmus E. Hemnes, born 1909, killed in May, 1944, US Army; Manuel P. Moniz, born in 1919, killed in August 1943, US Navy; Stanley Pope, born in 1923, died in December, 1944, US Navy Reserve; Walter Rogers, born in 1925, killed in November, 1942, US Navy; Edward H. Robbins, born in 1912, killed in June 1944, US Army Air Corps; Everett Thoits, born in 1924, died in April 1944, on USS Trout, US Navy Reserve; Francis J. Tucker, born in 1924, killed in November 1942 on USS San Francisco, US Navy; Raymond Gallant, born 1928, killed in action in Korea 1950, US Marine Corps; Augustine Perry, born in 1925, POW died in Korea, 1951, US Army; Luther S. Pierce, born 1915, killed in Korea, October, 1950, US Air Force.
At 8 a.m., flag raising and reveille by the Boy Scouts; at 4 p.m., flag lowering, taps, and cannon salute. St. Mary’s Church Troop 52, First Congregational Church Troop 55
NB Parade: New Route
New Bedford will hold its parade on Saturday, 11/11, beginning at 11:00 a.m. The 2017 New Bedford parade is presented by the City of New Bedford Veterans Advisory Board Veterans Day Parade Committee.
Parade participants will gather at the intersection of Rockdale Avenue and Union Street (Buttonwood Park) at approximately 10:30 a.m. and the parade will step off at 11 a.m. sharp.
The parade route has changed this year due to ongoing roadwork in the City. The parade will march east on Union Street, then turn left onto County Street, and then turn right onto William Street to the reviewing stand located in front of the New Bedford Main Library on the corner of Pleasant Street and William Street.
A Veterans Day service will be held at the reviewing stand at the conclusion of the parade and all participants and parade attendees are encouraged to attend. Seating will be reserved for elderly and disabled veterans near the reviewing stand.
Desert Storm and Bosnia veteran Paul Souza will serve as the Grand Marshal of the 2017 parade.
About Paul Souza
Born the son of New Bedford native Dr. Joseph “Zac” Souza, Paul Souza enlisted in the United States Army in September 1983 as a 19 Echo, Armor Crewman. He attended Basic Training at Fort Knox Kentucky. After training he would be go to Germany to the 3rd Armored Division, both the 2nd BN 33rd Armor and 2nd Bn 32nd Armor of the where he would serve as a Tank Driver, Tank Loader, and then transition to become a 19Kilo M1 Abrams Tank Gunner.
He was then reassigned to Fort Hood Texas to the 1st Bn 32nd Armor of the 1st Cavalry Division and in 1990 would deploy to Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm. Upon his return he would again be reassigned to Germany to become part of the 1st Armored Division where he would become a Tank Commander.
He was again reassigned to Fort Riley Kansas and the 1st Infantry Division, 1st Bn 34th Armor and continued served as Tank Commander. After a brief time as an Army Recruiter in Fullerton California he would return to Fort Riley and would deploy to Bosnia peacekeeping mission. He would remain at Fort Riley as a Platoon sergeant until his retirement in 2003.
He is currently an employee of the Bristol County Sheriff’s Office and the Executive Officer for the Abrams Company of the United States Brotherhood of Tankers, a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of America’s armor and cavalry heritage.
•••
Support local journalism, donate to the Neighb News at: https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=Y6V5ARRYH689G
Click here to download the entire 11-09-17 issue: 11-09-17 FHA Solar
Click here to download Bob Espindola’s Waterfront Suggestions: EspindolaWaterfrontSuggestions
Click here to download Dan Freitas’s Lobster Basin Suggestions: DanFreitasLobsterBasinSuggestions
