Brewer Invites Local JROTC to Honor Fallen Veterans
(Boston) – On May 24, 2012, Senator Stephen M. Brewer (D-Barre) invited the Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical High School Marine Corps JROTC to the Massachusetts State House to participate in the Senate’s annual tribute to the fallen soldiers of the Commonwealth.
The remembrance ceremony included a presentation of the colors by the JROTC prior to a roll call where Senators spoke the names of the Massachusetts service members from their districts that were killed in action. Following the roll call the Quaboag Highlanders Pipes and Drums band honored the fallen with Taps.
During the ceremony many legislators and guests were brought to tears as the names of the service men and women who gave the ultimate sacrifice were read. This past Memorial Day, Brewer called on guests to remember that “our troops serve with loyalty, duty, respect, honor, courage, and integrity. They are noble and strong, and they are deserving of our utmost respect and admiration.”
The student’s attendance at the event was a fitting tribute to one fallen soldier from the town of Westminster, Army Lieutenant Ryan Jones, who was killed in May of 2007 during an active duty tour in Baghdad, Iraq. He died of wounds he suffered when his vehicle struck a roadside bomb.
Ryan, a former student at Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical High School, leaves behind his parents Elaine and Kevin Jones of Westminster. Before he was deployed, Ryan gave his parents an envelope with instructions not to open it unless he lost his life in battle.
After his passing, Kevin and Elaine opened the letter to find that Ryan had left instructions to use his $400,000 life insurance policy to start a scholarship in his name at his high school.
Ryan’s parents continue to give back to the community by establishing this scholarship and creating the Ryan Patrick Jones “Heart of a Hero Foundation” to support the charities that Ryan cared about.
In attendance at the event was another Gold Star Family from Princeton, Dolly and Jim Sullivan, the parents of Army Captain Christopher J. Sullivan who lost his life on January 18, 2005 in Baghdad, Iraq when an improvised explosive device detonated near his parked vehicle.
Sullivan was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas. The Princeton native was just 29 years old. He was scheduled to return home to his wife and son in a few weeks at the time of his passing.
The ceremony was held during the second day of debate on the Senate’s version of the spending plan for Fiscal Year 2013. The budget, which is now subject to negotiations between a six member conference committee before being sent to the Governor’s desk, included spending initiatives to support Massachusetts Veterans. The budget increases the reimbursement to all towns with veterans’ homeless and transitional shelters at 100% for services provided to veterans rather than the 75% reimbursement given previously; no longer pro-rates annuity payments to disabled veterans, Gold Star Parents and spouses; increases both veterans’ outreach centers and homeless shelters by 10% to continue to provide access to services for veterans in their communities; and creates a new line item for War Memorials in the Commonwealth.
During the event, remarks were also offered by Senate President Therese Murray, Secretary of the Massachusetts Department of Veterans’ Services Coleman Nee, and Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs Michael Rush. Sergeant James Connor of the Massachusetts State Police sang the National Anthem and a closing prayer was offered by Reverend Joseph Baggetta, a Chaplain with the Massachusetts State Police. The Quaboag Highlanders Pipes and Drum Band closed the ceremony with Amazing Grace.
Posted: Tue, Jun 5, 2012
Updated Tue, Jun 5, 2012