Veterans Paul Dunphy and Edward Burke were appointed to fill two vacancies on the five-member War Memorial Commission at this week’s Select Board meeting and are eager to serve. The names of both men and their fathers appear on the memorial.
Burke, a Marine Corps veteran, currently serves on the Veterans Council. Dunphy, a Vietnam War veteran, has been active with the commission even though he was not a member at the time.
Burke, a past commission member, said that one of his goals is to include the names of Gulf War veterans on the south side of the monument.
Dunphy said that he has been researching the names of veterans who may have “fallen through the cracks” so that their names can be added to the wall.
He also shared a plan with the Select Board to place 24 6-foot flags at the monument “representing every soldier, sailor, and Marine whose names appear on the wall who were killed in action or who died in the service of their country – from the Civil to the Vietnam wars.”
Dunphy said he has identified a source who donated the flags for this purpose. “They are in very good condition, and all their names and their branches of service are labeled on the flags,” he said.
A sample flag was already installed at that location, with the assistance of the Department of Public Works, to gauge how they would hold up under high-wind conditions.
“The flag has been up for a month and is still in good shape, and I have the rest ready to go for Veterans Day” in cooperation with the commission, Dunphy said. “This is my way of educating folks around town by calling attention to the flags. Hopefully, that will start some conversations.”
Hull Times
Let the Good Times Roll in Hull, Massachusetts
