BOSTON – Lynnfield resident and retired U.S. Army Colonel Joseph Connell was honored on May 22 for his military service and contributions to the community at the first-ever Massachusetts Military Appreciation Day.
Sponsored by the Executive Office of Veterans Services, the event was held on May 22 in the House of Representatives Chamber at the State House to “celebrate, honor, and recognize the sacrifices and contributions of our military community in Massachusetts.” Legislators were asked to recommend a service member, military spouse or veteran from their district to be recognized for their contributions to their local community.
“It was so humbling to see the people who were nominated throughout the state by state representatives and political leaders,” said Connell in an interview with the Villager. “To have World War II veterans there and veterans from Korea, which my dad served in, left me in awe as I was looking around me. It was great being surrounded by a great group of heroes. It was nice being part of that first annual inaugural ceremony. Gen. Joseph Dunford spoke, who was commander of Afghanistan after I left. I knew of him and talked to him in the past. Seeing him there was also special.”
Connell was nominated by House Minority Leader Brad Jones Jr. (R-North Reading), who cited his volunteer work and his instrumental role in creating the new Lynnfield Veterans Memorial, which was formally dedicated on Veterans Day in 2024.
The memorial features the names of all 1,098 Lynnfield men and women who have served in the nation’s military, from the Revolutionary War to the War on Terrorism, and was completed with state funding assistance, community donations and countless hours of volunteer work.
Col. Connell chaired the nine-member Veterans Memorial Committee that oversaw the project, working alongside fellow committee members Thomas Bogart, Paul Donato, John Harrigan, Jason Kimball, Charles Leach, Ronald Nutter, Police Chief Nick Secatore and Veterans Services Office Bruce Siegel.
“The construction of the Veterans Memorial was truly a collaborative effort involving the members of the Lynnfield Veterans Memorial Committee and many other volunteers throughout Lynnfield, but there is no doubt that Colonel Connell was the driving force and impetus behind this project, from its initial conception in 2016 to its completion last year,” said Jones. “The Lynnfield Veterans Memorial is an inspiring, impressive and moving memorial to all of Lynnfield’s veterans, and represents just one of the many ways Col. Connell has given back to his country and to his community.”
Connell served in the U.S. Army for 30 years before retiring in September of 2014 as the senior advisor to the Massachusetts National Guard. He previously served as a platoon leader at Fort Lewis, Washington, and as the chief of staff for U.S. Forces-Afghanistan. In addition to his combat tours in Somalia, Iraq and Afghanistan, Connell also served in Korea, and received 23 service awards and decorations, including The Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Bronze Star and Iraq and Afghanistan Combat Campaign Medals.
Since moving to Lynnfield in 2012, Connell has been an active member of the community, having previously served on the Lynnfield Select Board, as a boys’ youth lacrosse assistant coach and as a girls’ youth soccer coach. He has also served as a board member of the town’s Public Safety Building Committee, the Lynnfield Rail Trail, the New Lynnfield Cemetery Committee and the Strategic Planning Committee.
“The Army over my career taught me one thing, once you leave the military, it’s up to each veteran to get back into the community and serve them as you served the nation,” said Connell. “You have to make sure the image and reputation the community has for us goes untarnished. Make an impact on your community in a positive manner.”