Published May 29, 2025
By MAUREEN DOHERTY
NORTH READING — Memorial Day this past Monday was a gloriously sunny and warm day during which the townspeople came together to remember with gratitude the ultimate sacrifices paid by those who heroically gave their lives in the service of their country in wars and conflicts both here and abroad across the centuries.
The day began with early morning tributes led by the North Reading Co. of Minit and Militia at the town’s three cemeteries — Riverside, Harmony Vale and Park Street — plus the Blue Star Memorial at Ipswich River Park. At each stop, opening remarks, prayer and the Roll of Honor was read by past Capt. Rich Stratton. Taps was played by high school trumpeters Ivan Deiko and Alexina Sepke, three musket volleys were fired, and a color guard was provided by Boy Scout Troop 750.
The town’s tribute to the fallen continued at the top of the Town Common, near the war memorials prior to the Memorial Day parade.
Once at the common, those who had participated in the services at the town’s cemeteries were now joined by the entire award-winning NRHS Marching Band, a large contingent of Scouts of all ages, the North Reading Police Dept. Honor Guard, additional members of the Minit and Militia, members of the North Reading VFW Post 10874 and a plethora of town officials and guest speakers.
The Master of Ceremonies was Rich Stratton, past captain of the Minit and Militia and a combat veteran who served in Vietnam.
Deacon Anthony O’Brien of St. Theresa Church, offered the invocation and NRHS senior Alivia Rowe sang the national anthem.
After the retirement of the colors, Stratton acknowledged that residents of North Reading have served their country dating back to the French and Indian War, the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, the War of 1848, the Civil War, Spanish American War, WWI and II, Korean Conflict, Vietnam Conflict and all the wars of the modern era.
Standing but feet away from the five war memorials listing the names of those from North Reading who have answered the call of duty to their country over the centuries, Stratton the read the Roll of Honor of veterans with ties to North Reading who have died during the past year, followed by a moment of silence.
Select Board member Nick Masse read the Memorial Day Proclamation of Gov. Maura Healey.
Veterans Services Officer TJ Tedeschi then introduced guest speaker retired Vice Admiral Walter Massenburg who served for 38 years in the U.S. Navy, retiring in 2007. “As a naval flag officer, he served as the Naval Aviation Logsitician and as the Naval Aviation Depot Commander,” Tedeschi said. “His last assignment in the Navy was Commander, Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) and chief operating officer of the Naval Aviation Enterprise.”
Memorial Day address by Admiral Walter Black Massenburg:
I, Walter Black Massenburg, do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States of America, against all enemies, foreign and domestic, that I will bear truth faith and allegiance to the same. That I take this obligation freely, without mental reservation or purpose of evasion. That I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter, so help me God!
With this reaffirmation of my oath, I honor those whose courage before us, have assured the freedoms that we enjoy in this country.
At its core, Memorial Day is a tribute to those Service members who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country. It is a day of somber reflection, to pause from our normal routine to acknowledge the cost of the freedoms we take for granted. This morning, I will acknowledge those whom I remember, whose lives were cut short while serving our Country.
My cousin Marine 1st LT John Pels, a Marine pilot, just 24 years old, flying a F9F Panther during the Korean War in 1952.
My first recollection of knowing that John had been killed in the Korean War was Memorial Day in 1959 when we moved to Baltimore our family visited his grave. Our family continues to remember John’s sacrifice even as the Korean War remains with no solution or peace. Today, I remember John Pels.
My boyhood friend, who volunteered to serve, Spec 4 Rick Cumberpatch, a 19 year old Army medic killed in action in Vietnam, several months after he had graduated from high school. My last remembrance of Rick was playing the guitar on the porch of the Sherwood Forest club house the night before the fourth of July in 1968. He left the next week for boot camp and then to Vietnam and he was killed four months after he had arrived. That’s when the Vietnam War became a reality for me. Today, I remember Rick Cumberpatch, and when I visit the Vietnam Memorial in DC, I always find his name on the Wall.
My flying partner in Corpus Christi who was going to be my roommate once we got to our initial squadron in Jacksonville, Patrol Squadron 45, Ensign Joe Becker. Joe was killed in P-3 training accident at Moffett Field, CA. The last time I saw Joe was the day we received our Wings. He was leaving Corpus Christi to go to the next level of our training in the P-3 aircraft, he to NAS Moffet Field in California, and I to Patuxent River, Maryland. As we were in the same training syllabus at the same time, but on different coasts, I was flying the same flight that he was flying when his airplane never made it home. I was stunned when I got back from my flight to the news that Joe and another pilot I knew, Mike Nelson were missing. To this day, the airplane has never been found. That’s when I realized how life is very fragile and can change in an instant.
Today, I remember Joe Becker.
My dear friend, Navy Captain Jack Punches, a Navy pilot with whom I had flown in the Replacement Squadron in the early 1980s. Jack was in the Pentagon on watch at the Navy Command Center on 9/11 the War on Terrorism. I had seen Jack the week before as he had recently retired and had taken a civilian job. He had stopped by my office in Crystal City to let me know he had taken the job. I didn’t realize he had been killed in the Command Center until several days after the attack. Today, I remember Jack Punches.
So I ask, today … for whom do you remember?
I read a book that was given to me by Mr. Brendan Sullivan in anticipation of my Memorial Day Remembrance at the St. Sebastian School. It was the story of the loss of LT Joe Dunn during the Vietnam War. It is also a story of the family he left behind and his wife’s tireless efforts with respect to the POW/MIA accountability. The book is “The Search for Canasta 404”. It is an appropriate read for this solemn day.
For thus be it ever when free men shall stand between their loved homes and the war’s desolation, blessed with vic’try and peace may the heaven’s rescued land praise the power that hath made and preserved us our nation and conquer we must when our cause it is just and this be our motto “in God is our trust and the Stars Spangled Banner in triumph shall wave o’er the land of the free and the home of the Brave.
For those whose lives were cut short in the Service of their country … I remember, we remember on this occasion of Memorial Day 2025.
Remarks by Select Board Chair Stephen O’Leary
Select Board Chairman Stephen O’Leary took the opportunity to remember a local fallen hero, Daniel David Callahan, who grew up on Williams Road. The Memorial Day parade route marches past his house, O’Leary told those gathered.
“Today is not a day of celebration— it is a day of reflection and appreciation,” O’Leary said, who recalled being 13 years old when he learned of Danny Callahan’s death in Vietnam who was killed in the line of duty at just 20 1/2 years old.
“At this time, I had one brother serving as a commissioned officer in the Army, another family member, soon to be graduating from high school already committed to joining the Marines. It was a time in our country of great political divide. There were protests in the streets and on college campuses. At 13, this news heightened my awareness and concern,” O’Leary said.
Recalling Callahan, who was a 1965 graduate of NRHS “where he played basketball, ran track and served on the Student Council. He was a son, a brother, a teammate, classmate and friend. His ambition was to go to college.”
Before Callahan could realize that dream he was drafted into the Army with the specialty of Light Weapons Infantry and the rank of Specialist Four with the 25th Infantry Division, 4th Battalion, 9th Infantry, B Company. “Army Specialist Four Callahan experienced a traumatic event which ultimately resulted in the loss of life on February 25, 1968. Daniel David Callahan was serving his country when he gave his all in the line of duty. Daniel David Callahan is a Gold Star Veteran from North Reading, Massachusetts. There are Daniel Callahans in virtually every community across this nation. Men and women who forfeited their futures so that we may freely live out ours,” O’Leary said.
State Rep. Brad Jones and State Sen. Bruce Tarr also offered remarks, followed by patriotic music by the band, the firing of volleys by the Minit and Militia, the placing of the wreaths on the memorial markers at the top of the common by the members of the VFW and Taps by NRHS buglers Ivan Deiko and Alexina Sepke. Deacon O’Brien offered a benediction prior to closing remarks by Stratton. At the conclusion of the ceremony, hundreds of townspeople gathered to partake in the annual parade.