LOCAL

Braintree salutes war dead and others who served

Mary Whitfill
mwhitfill@patriotledger.com

BRAINTREE – Between the rows of American flags decorating the graves at Blue Hill Cemetery, families and friends of those who served, as well as veterans themselves, gathered to remember those who lost their lives while serving in the U.S. military.

On Sunday morning, Navy Cmdr. Sean Kearns, commanding officer of the USS Constitution, spoke to a crowd of about 200 people during a Memorial Day ceremony in the cemetery’s Garden of Honor.

“We are truly a rich and blessed nation to have such brave men and women willing to lay down their lives, not for their own personal gain but for their firmly held beliefs in that most fundamental of American precepts: liberty,” Kearns said.

Even though he now lives in Norwell, former Braintree resident Joe Puliafico attended the ceremony – something he has been doing for many years.

“It says it all right here,” Puliafico said, proudly pointing to the slogan on his shirt: “Home of Brave.”

He said Memorial Day brings back memories of the 31 years he spent in the Army, and it gives him a chance to recognize the sacrifice being made by his son, Joe Puliafico Jr., who is serving in Afghanistan.

“Between the two of us, we have over 60 years in the service,” Puliafico said.

Brothers Tom and Paul Hamilton stood at the grave of their father, Robert Hamilton, who served in World War II. For almost 20 years, they have been attending their hometown ceremony, ever since Paul’s now-31-year-old daughter’s middle school choir sang the national anthem at the ceremony.

“It’s a wonderful service,” Paul Hamilton said. “Our dad is buried here, and it’s just a good way to honor the veterans, both living and dead. ...It reminds you what Memorial Day is all about.”

Speaking during the ceremony, U.S. Rep. Stephen F. Lynch said, “It is often said that when a member of the family serves in the military, the whole family serves. ...It’s the veterans and the power of their example that continue to inspire today’s generation to accept and take on military service.”

The Braintree observance included the reciting of General Logan’s Address by Alfred Varraso, commander-elect of the Braintree Veterans Council.

The names of Braintree veterans who died in the last year were read by the chaplains of American Legion Post 86, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1703 and Disabled American Veterans Chapter 29.

After the names were read, the paper on which they were printed was put into an Army helmet and burned in remembrance.

“While we will never forget the brave men and women who died so we could remain free, for them, the struggle is over, and it falls to us to pick up the torch and carry on for them,” Kearns said.

Mary Whitfill may be reached at mwhitfill@ledger.com.