The Bellingham Bulletin July 2011 : Page 1
The Bellingham Bulletin ~ Favorite News updates at www.BellinghamBulletin.com • for Become a fan Facebook! Bellingham’s Hometown “Good-NewsPaper” the past 16 on years! Bellingham Bulletin S t i l l D i re c t -M a i l e d i n to e v e ry Ho m e & B u s i n e s s i n B e l l i n g h a m F R E E O F C H A R G E ! Since 1994 PRST-STD Postal Patron JULY 2011 U.S. Postage Bellingham, ma 02019 1 Bellingham BULLETIN Permit No. 107 Bellingham, MA P A I D i t e, m , ebs letin.co s w ul ur te it o amB da Vis ellingh nt up e w. B qu Thanks for w w o r f re f delivering to: Don’t Miss Bellingham’s July 4th Festivities! Bellingham’s Hometown Newspaper Since 1994 JULY 2011 Volume XVII, Issue 10 Taft, Eldredge Honored in Memorial Day Ceremonies Writen by Ken Hamwey, Bulletin Staff Writer Shown at the dedication (l–r) are Roland Arcand, Josie Taft, Joanne (Taft) Arcand and Mary Chaves Bellingham’s Memorial Day celebration on May 22 had extra meaning for the fami-lies of the late Ernie Taft and 92-year-old Emerson “Cappy” Eldredge. Bellingham’s Historical Museum was renamed for Taft at a special dedication, and Eldredge received eight medals at a ceremony on the Town Common for his military service in World War II and for his nine months as a prisoner of war. Taft, who served the town in a wide variety of capacities, was best-known as Bellingham’s Town Historian and Curator of the museum. He died last year on Dec. 27 at the age of 63 from complications after a fall. The program, which included songs by Aubrie Bagdasarian and brief remarks by state and local officials outside the museum, focused on Taft’s passion for preserving Emerson “Cappy” Eldredge was presented MEMORIAL DAY– cont. on page 23 with eight medals. story & photo by Thomas Scanlon, Contributing Writer Long-time Bellingham resident and re-cently retired career military officer Master Sergeant Scott Young was awarded the Bronze Star, one of the Armed Forces’ high-est honors, given to service members who display extraordinary bravery or meritorious acts and services. MSgt.Young received the award for his meritorious service as part of the 912th division’s Forward Surgical Team at a ceremony held at Fort Devens in Ayer, MA. Four other FST teams were on hand to receive awards, which were presented by state officials, including Plymouth native and state senate president Theresa Murray. “The ceremony was kind of surreal,” said Young. “I guess I didn’t really expect it or feel that I deserved any special recognition. The whole time I was over there my goals were to not let anyone on my team down and to make sure the critically important job got done. The most important part is that we MSgt. Scott Young with his Bronze Star were successful.” Young noted how emotional the ceremony teams who were sent back overseas within ended up being: ”I had the chance to see the following week.” some guys I hadn’t seen in years there with MSgt.Young was the head of one of only me, also receiving awards. On top of that, it twenty FST units in the Armed Services, was a sort of send-off for one of the recipient YOUNG– continued on page 4 Local Hero Scott Young Recognized for His Service Jamison mendall Tree removal Happy 4th of July! “Serving all your tree needs” 1-508-958-0747 Pruning, Storm Damage, Aerial Bucket & Bobcat Services Stump Grinding, PLOWING & more... L icensed & i nsured • F ree e stimates Celebrating our 5th Anniversary! the Advantages of Working with an Now It’s Grilling Time! Try opeN! our Fresh-Cut Meats Featuring Sliced Deli Meats, Deli Sandwiches, Deli Platters, Fresh Cut Meats, Homemade Prepared Meals To-Go and Fine Italian Grocery Conveniently Located in Bellingham Center • 1 Mechanic St. (Jct. of Rtes. 126 & 140, next to Gateway Liquors) Bellingham, MA 02019 Visit us on our website at RealtyExecutivesTriCounty.com Serving MA & RI • Nous parlons Francais 508-966-3563 TRI COUNTY RETriCounty@comcast.net Member, Bellingham Business Association 508-657-1382 hoUrs: mon-sat, 10:30 am–6:30 Pm & sUn, 12–4 Pm 116 mechanic st. (across from U.S. Post Office) • Bellingham, MA
Taft, Eldredge Honored In Memorial Day Ceremonies
Ken Hamwey
Bellingham’s Memorial Day celebration on May 22 had extra meaning for the families of the late Ernie Taft and 92-year-old Emerson “Cappy” Eldredge. Bellingham’s Historical Museum was renamed for Taft at a special dedication, and Eldredge received eight medals at a ceremony on the Town Common for his military service in World War II and for his nine months as a prisoner of war.<br /> <br /> Taft, who served the town in a wide variety of capacities, was best-known as Bellingham’s Town Historian and Curator of the museum. He died last year on Dec. 27 at the age of 63 from complications after a fall.<br /> <br /> The program, which included songs by Aubrie Bagdasarian and brief remarks by state and local officials outside the museum, focused on Taft’s passion for preserving Bellingham’s history and his love for the community.<br /> <br /> “Ernie had physical limitations, but they never dulled his tenacity for living life to its fullest,” said Dan Ranieri, a former state representative from Bellingham and longtime friend. “Ernie achieved a lot in a short period of time.” <br /> <br /> State Senator Richard Moore stressed how Taft honored the tradition of the community: “He was the soul of Bellingham,” Moore said. “And he was a blessing to this community.He’d be honored to see how he’s being remembered today.” <br /> <br /> Former Selectman Jerry Mayhew and Town Administrator Denis Fraine recalled Taft’s value in the many roles he served. “Ernie had Bellingham uppermost in his thoughts,” Mayhew said. “Bellingham is doing the right thing today in renaming the museum in his honor.” <br /> <br /> Fraine mentioned how Taft could be counted on for so many tasks and how the historian lobbied to make the old library a museum: “Once Ernie succeeded getting his foot in the door and making the old library a partial museum, he practically kicked the door down later and got the entire building to display the town’s artifacts and memorabilia,” Fraine said.<br /> <br /> Outside the museum, a sign bearing the words “Ernest A. Taft Jr. Historical Museum” was unveiled. A bench and flagpole honoring Taft will be displayed later, and the bench also will have the names of advocates of the town’s history engraved on it. Anyone wishing to donate to that cause can send a contribution to the Town of Bellingham; reference checks to the Historical Commission bench and mail to Historical Commission, c/o Bellingham Municipal Center, 10 Mechanic St., Bellingham, MA 02019.<br /> <br /> The committee that helped in the dedication ceremony included former Selectman Mary Chaves, Joanne Arcand (Taft’s sister) and Marcia Crooks of the Historical Commission.<br /> <br /> “What transpired today for Ernie was wonderful,” said Arcand. “He spent lots of time in the museum, but he never considered it a job. It was his love.” <br /> <br /> Later in the day, the town’s 140th Memorial Day Parade and ceremony took center stage with former Marine Jim Hastings, chairman of the Memorial Day Committee, serving as the program director. The theme of the day was the 20th anniversary of Desert Storm and the 150th anniversary of the Civil War. Marilyn Fuller, a well-known teacher, read a letter that her great grandfather (Joel Griffin) had written about his days as a Civil War soldier, and Brigadier General Thomas Sellars of the Massachusetts Army National Guard later presented Eldredge with his medals, assisted by Sen.Moore. Eldredge received the POW Medal, Bronze Star, Combat Infantry Badge, the European-African Middle East Campaign Medal with four bronze stars, the WWII Victory Medal, the Army Good Conduct Badge, the Rifle/Marksman Badge and the Honorable Service Badge.<br /> <br /> Drafted in 1943, Eldredge served in Italy, France and Germany with the 36th Infantry Division and was taken prisoner in 1944 in Germany. During his first six months as a POW, he wasn’t allowed to communicate with his wife, Virginia, who died five years ago. He was classified as “Missing in Action.” <br /> <br /> “My wife deserves these medals more than me because she didn’t know if I was alive or dead,” said an emotional Eldredge. “It was only in my last three months as a POW that I could write to her. But the Germans censored every letter.I couldn’t say what I was doing or where I was.” <br /> <br /> Eldredge, who was born in Milford, was kept on the move every day, rarely staying in the same location for two days.<br /> <br /> He was finally imprisoned in Stalag VII-A in the small town of Mooseburg, close to Munich. Never tortured, Eldredge nevertheless existed on a diet of rotten potatoes, turnip soup and water. He was freed on April 28, 1945.<br /> <br /> Eldredge’s three children (Barbara, Don and Richard), his grandchildren and great grandchildren attended the ceremony.<br /> <br /> “I’m proud I was able to serve and I knew we needed to preserve our freedom,” Eldredge said. “I’m pleased what others did for me. I worked for Draper Corporation, and they were terrific in the way they treated me and my wife.<br /> I have no regrets.” <br /> <br /> State Representative Ryan Fattman said he was honored to be invited for Eldredge’s long-overdue recognition: I’m honored to be here for this ceremony, commemorating true sacrifice that has kept our nation free,” Fattman said. “We’re forever in debt to people like Mr. Eldredge.” <br /> <br /> The recognition of Eldredge, who worked as a painter for Draper and also served as a volunteer firefighter in Bellingham for 30 years, occurred because of the efforts of Bob Provost, a friend who served with him as a firefighter.Provost called Dana McQuaid at the Massachusetts Army National Guard, who in turn contacted U.S. Sen. John Kerry’s office. A few months later, Hastings received the medals for presentation.
Local Hero Scott Young Recognized For His Service
Thomas Scanlon
Long-time Bellingham resident and recently retired career military officer Master Sergeant Scott Young was awarded the Bronze Star, one of the Armed Forces’ highest honors, given to service members who display extraordinary bravery or meritorious acts and services. Msgt.Young received the award for his meritorious service as part of the 912th division’s Forward Surgical Team at a ceremony held at Fort Devens in Ayer, MA. Four other FST teams were on hand to receive awards, which were presented by state officials, including Plymouth native and state senate president Theresa Murray.<br /> <br /> “The ceremony was kind of surreal,” said Young. “I guess I didn’t really expect it or feel that I deserved any special recognition.The whole time I was over there my goals were to not let anyone on my team down and to make sure the critically important job got done. The most important part is that we were successful.” <br /> <br /> Young noted how emotional the ceremony ended up being: ”I had the chance to see some guys I hadn’t seen in years there with me, also receiving awards. On top of that, it was a sort of send-off for one of the recipient teams who were sent back overseas within the following week.” <br /> <br /> Msgt.Young was the head of one of only twenty FST units in the Armed Services,Serving from 2003 to 2004. These elite teams serve as first responders during the interim between a battlefield injury and the transporting of victims to hospitals, often treating wounded military personnel and civilians in the line of fire. Stationed near Baghdad International Airport in Iraq’s capital city, Baghdad, Young and his team were kept busy.<br /> <br /> “We were right in the thick of it,” Young said. “For the first six months of my last deployment my guys were the only FST unit in Baghdad. You can imagine some of the things we saw and went through. And we treated good guys and bad guys side by side.” <br /> <br /> These units are pushing the boundaries of innovation in battlefield care, saving lives and preventing possibly disabling wounds. Armed with only bravery and simple technology, FSTs give veterans who could have been faced with losing limbs or contracting crippling infections a fighting chance.<br /> <br /> On one mission, Young and his team had Baghdadi villagers bring them four children severely wounded by an unverified IED explosive. Their wounds included lacerations deep enough to expose the place where teeth connect to jaw, a collapsed lung, and a severed finger. Young told The Bulletin how transformative the experience had been: “It really made you realize just what these people experience in their daily lives. The danger, the poverty--it’s all just so overwhelming.” <br /> <br /> Young and his team got these boys to the Combat Support Hospital in downtown Baghdad, where they received further care, all surviving the explosion.<br /> <br /> That was just the beginning of Young and his team’s relationship with the boys, named Mohamed, Yousef, Moustafa, and Akim. These boys had touched a special place in the Hearts of Young and his team, and not only were they on a first-name basis afterward, but they began a year-long friendship. Aware of the conditions the four boys and the other children from their village lived in, Young and his team began collecting donations.<br /> <br /> “People know that the troops need support,” said Young.“But what they don’t realize is just how badly the people over there, especially the children, need it.” <br /> <br /> What began with a church organization in Milford, Massachusetts, a handful of Young’s colleagues, and his father, soon became an international charity effort.<br /> <br /> “It all began with my sending out some emails,” Young said. “I guess from there it kind of took off. It branched out and pretty soon people from places as far away as China, Canada, and Spain were sending in children’s clothing and shoes. The support that people showed was inspirational.Families would even send photos of themselves and letters along with their donations.” Young’s team was soon making runs into local villages and distributing all the goods they had received. “In fact, when the charity really got going, we started to run out of storage space for all of it,” he added.<br /> <br /> Service like this, both on and off the battlefield, earned him his Bronze Star. What matters more to him is that he and his men were granted the opportunity to save and enrich so many lives, something he said he would be forever grateful for.<br /> <br /> “People might think that we did it all just to help other people, but it was so much more than that,” Young said.“It helped us. Being able to do something like that during all the violence around you really helps you maintain your humanity.”
