Fellow Veterans and friends, Cohasset Gold Star Mothers, boys and girls of Cohasset- First, I want to thank you for having me back to speak as a Vietnam veteran from Cohasset. What an honor it is for me to be here for this Dedication of the Cohasset Gold Star Mothers Memorial. This Gold Star tradition has been in our country for almost a century now as a way to remember our men and women who have sacrificed their lives for our country. The gold star tradition began in WWI when flags were displayed from homes, businesses, schools and churches to indicate by a blue star each active duty service person. A gold star was stitched over the blue star when one of the soldiers had given their lives for their country. In 1928 a group of 25 “Gold Star Mothers” in Washington DC began the national organization of American Gold Star Mothers. In its original charter it listed many purposes including The general promotion of peace and good will, and The perpetuation of the memory of those whose lives were sacrificed.

The Gold Star Mothers organization is composed of American Mothers who have lost a son or daughter during WWI, WWII, the Korean War, Vietnam War, Beirut, Grenada, Panama, the Persian Gulf, Somalia, Bosnia, Saudi Arabia and I suppose our most recent place of conflict – Afghanistan.

It is so special to be here today to both honor this organization in the accomplishment of its goals, and to honor the Gold Star Mothers of Cohasset themselves – Mrs. Simeone and Mrs. Maree who are with us today and those others that we remember so well.

Who would of thought last August when Glenn Pratt asked me to speak that the world would of changed so much on September 11th? – I work for the FDA just outside of DC. On the morning of September 11th someone in my office showed me on their computer on the internet the World Trade Center being hit – then hit again – and the Pentagon strike – so close to us – a building that most of us thought could not be touched. We were immediately evacuated. We live close to three major airports – Baltimore Washington International, Reagan Nation and Dulles – and we are in the flight path for Camp David, Andrew’s Air Force Base and the White House. By noon the skies were empty except for military strike planes – Huey gun jets and F16’s – And the skies remained that way for several days. It was a dreadful time – friends and family calling, wondering what was the meaning of all this – the loss of so many lives? Is it over? Will it continue? Are we safe?

These recent events somehow give even more weight and import to what we are here to do today – to remember our wars – not always for the victories or for the heroes who come home again – but also for the many sacrifices – our mothers’ sons – which must be made for any war.

I remember in 1969 coming home from Mass General Hospital Nursing School every few months for another funeral – I remember standing on the hill at central Cemetery in Cohasset – at Allen Keating’s funeral – saying to my friend and classmate Craig Muir – I have to do something. I signed up for the Army Nurse Corps and within a year I was in Vietnam – I was 20 years old – I thought that was the least I could do – to care for these friends of mine – these soldiers – who were going off and giving their lives for our country.

This strong feeling of patriotism that we feel today were not always present in our country or in our town of Cohasset. I remember in 1972 after I returned from Vietnam when I was home from the Army my mother asked me to march in the Memorial Day parade – she said it would mean so much to my father. I had marched in Memorial Day parades every year as a young girl – a flower girl, a Brownie, a Girl Scout, in the American Legion Women’s Auxiliary. To march in an Army uniform in 1972 – at 20 something – was not a popular thing to do. But I felt it was the right thing to do – to remember our wars and the sacrifices that had been made and were being made – the loss of our sons – our brothers, our friends – So I marched – with Jet Jackson, John Morgan – in uniform. There were so few of is Vietnam era veterans. We walked down Main Street Cohasset feeling perhaps unpopular but knowing inside ourselves it was the right thing to do – In years following others joined us – Wayne Harrington, Donnie and Duncan McCormack, until in 1990 we had over 100 veterans marching and this resurgence of interest – Veterans remembering their fellow veterans continues today – especially with this memorial.

Today – 30 years later – I am still a Vietnam Veteran and also a mother – the mother of our 13 year old son Maury – who is here with my husband Rodney today. As a mother and with the events of September 11th I feel the dichotomy of war stronger than ever – the patriotism and love of our country – and the dread of sending our sons and daughters into harms way. This Memorial is such a magnificent way to honor these Gold Star Cohasset mothers who lost their sons – for they know best the high price of freedom in this country – they have experienced the ultimate price of freedom.

We are here today to dedicate this Gold Star Mothers Memorial that was built by the families and friends of these Gold Star Mothers and their sons. This is a memorial for veterans of all wars of the 20th century. And as part of our dedication here today we are going to hear about each of these wars and their impact on Cohasset – and the people of Cohasset – This dedication today is a symbol of the collective loss of the town of Cohasset – from George Mealy in World War I to Peter Albiani in Vietnam.

As Ed Allen, a Vietnam Veteran, expressed it so aptly in 1970 in his poem: