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Send us news about regular active-duty military personnel, reservists, veterans, veterans organizations, veterans' issues, reunions, military history and memories, memorials — you name it. So long as it has a Swampscott connection, we'll post it. Send your info to terry.date@patch.comThe Swampscott Global War on Terror monument committee is proud to announce that our GWOT monument is currently under construction and is scheduled to be dedicated on Veterans Day, 11 November 2012. To the end the Swampscott Veterans Service Officer is working on comprising a complete and accurate list of all Swampscott residents who are serving now or have served during the Global War in Terror for inclusion on our GWOT monument. The current roster includes: Backstrom, Jonathan D. Bishop, Donald J. Blonder, Jeffrey S. Bollen, Paul F. Bragan, Justin K. …
Zach Kalapinski marched in his second graduation in three months last Friday when he graduated from the Marine Corps recruit training at Parris Island, S.C. His first graduation was back in June with fellow Class of 2012 members at Swampscott High, where he was captain of the football team and a member of the lacrosse team. Zach's mom, Jodi, his girlfriend and five others traveled to South Carolina last weekend to see him and tour the island boot camp and go to the graduation ceremony. Jodi said it was very emotional seeing her son. "He was the same yet different," she said. It seemed like…
A group working to build a Swampscott monument to veterans of The Global War on Terrorism gained momentum around Memorial Day but have a ways to go to complete the mission by Veterans Day, Nov. 11, 2012. The organizers’ goal is to raise $25,000. They are about 10 percent of the way there, said Jim Schultz, a member of the committee organizing the monument effort. He and fellow committee members Jacki Raymond, David Van Dam and Jay Stinson are meeting weekly. In recent weeks they have been focused on the upcoming fundraiser for the monument project. It’s June 16, from 7-11 pm at St. John the…
Information for this article was submitted by Cindy Blonder and David Van Dam. Swampscott's plans to construct a monument honoring the brave men and women who served our country in Afghanistan and Iraq are well under way. Plans for this monument have been custom designed so that the monument can sit in harmony with our other war memorial monuments, as well as our unique landscape. There is no public funding for the monument. Residents are asked to contribute to the monument so that it can become a reality. Swampscott was recipient of a war memorial monument from a nationwide contest in …
Swampscott resident and veteran Patrick Burke was among the runners and walkers who raised money for injured veterans at the May 20, Run-Walk to Home Base event presented by New Balance. Patrick joined fellow workers from GE to support veterans who have returned from Afghanistan and Iraq with post traumatic stress and brain injuries. Swampscott police officer Candace Doyle and firefighter Richard Blake were also among the throng of runners and walkers putting their best foot forward for vets. The event raised $2 million for the Red Sox Foundation and Massachusetts General Hospital Home …
Welcome to Boots on the Ground. This is a place where we spread the word about all things military related. Our second column is looks at the Global War on Terror Monument Committee project in town and comes from the committee. The Swampscott GWOT Monument Committee is in the process of commissioning the construction of a monument honoring all who have come forward and served in the U.S. Military since September 11th 2001. Anyone wishing to make a contribution to the fund to finance this project may do so by sending a check made out to; Swampscott GWOT Monument and mail to Veteran …
Welcome to Boots on the Ground. This is a place where we spread the word about all things military related. Our first column recognizes Jenna Schultz-Serena. U.S. Army Specialist Jenna Schultz-Serena was recently promoted to her present rank of Specialist E-4 while serving with her former unit the 557th Medical Battalion in Wiesbaden Germany. Specialist Schultz-Serena who is now serving with the 101st Airborne Division in Fort Cambell Kentucky was also recently awarded the Army Commendation Medal and the Army Achievement Medal for outstanding performance of duty while serving with the …
