ORDER-2017-115 : Proclaiming Melrose a Purple Heart City and Designating It as a Purple Heart Trail

Transcript (~11 min @ 19:56)

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▶ 19:52 Peter D. Mortimer: Mr. President, I make a motion that we suspend the rules and take the orders out of order to take the tabled orders first, specifically order 2017-115.

▶ 20:06 Speaker 6: Second.

▶ 20:06 Speaker 1: Alderman Mortimer moves that we consider order 2017-115, claiming melrose a purple heart city and designating it as a purple heart trail motion is seconded by alderman forbes on the motion all those in favor anyone opposed motion passes the order is will be considered at this time mr president i make a motion to remove said order

▶ 20:29 Speaker 1: from the table second the motion alderman water removes to remove the order from the table the motion is seconded by alderman forbes as we all know motion to table which removed from the table is non-debatable all those in favor of the motion please indicate by saying aye aye aye anyone opposed motion passes the order is removed from the table and it is before you mr president excuse me i make

▶ 20:47 Peter D. Mortimer: a motion to suspend the rules that we may hear from our veteran service officer and other dignitaries here today and i move that they may approach the podium second mortimer moves to

▶ 20:58 Speaker 1: suspend the rules motion is seconded by alderman forbes on the motion to suspend the rules is there any discussion. All those in favor of the motion please indicate by saying aye. Aye. Anyone opposed? Motion passes. Anybody who's here to enlighten us on the

▶ 21:22 Speaker 3: order please come forward. Good evening. Thank you so much for having us here. My name is Alicia Rudden. I'm your Director of Veterans Services. I'm Brian Ouellette,

▶ 21:28 Speaker 6: Commander of the Western Massachusetts Chapter 875 of the Military Order of the

▶ 21:34 Speaker 1: Purple Heart. I'm Jim Michette. I'm on the board for veterans here in Melrose. Do you want to start Tim? Yeah. Hi, thanks for having us here tonight. I want to say that I've lived in six states and I've been back from Vietnam for 50 years and this is the first town that has welcomed me as a veteran and it's the first town that I've walked in a parade since I came back from Vietnam. I'd like to say that I appreciate the respect and honor that you give all the servicemen and women and it's amazing to see how many people participate also the honor that you give people that have made the ultimate sacrifice has always been strong in this town and I know all the veterans appreciate that I think there is one category that I think there needs to be recognized and that's servicemen women who have earned a purple heart and we would like to have that honor and respect by having

▶ 22:44 Speaker 6: this be a purple heart city thank you excellent remarks mr president board members thank you for uh having us here tonight uh uh the city of melrose has a reputation uh throughout the state as an outstanding veteran community one that supports veterans uh uh to a great degree as a vfw state officer i can tell you that the melrose post is as well known for its activities He's in town, and it's an honor to be here. I'm joined tonight by two of my fellow patriots of the military order of the Purple Heart, two patriots who made the bodily sacrifice in combat for our nation. Wayne Henry was wounded in 1969 in Vietnam. This is Wayne. And Kurt Power was wounded in 2005 in Iraq. In our chapter, in the Western Massachusetts chapter, we have two father and son Purple Heart recipients, Jim Bouchard and Josh Bouchard. Jim wounded in 1969 and his son Josh wounded almost 40 years to the day in 19 or 2009. I was wounded in September of 2010 and my son Kevin was wounded seven months later in Kabul in Afghanistan. The Purple Heart transcends all generations. It transcends all uh walks of life and this action today by by you by the board members is very welcome we appreciate it we're all just doing our job any one of us will tell you uh but we're very very honored that you would thank us in this special way and uh i would really like to have uh melrose at that list of of communities that uh at least has been personally involved in adding to it'll be a very welcome

▶ 24:25 Speaker 1: event tonight thank you thank you sir any discussion or comments relative to

▶ 24:28 Speaker 3: this order if it pleases the board i would like the opportunity just to read the proclamation that you would all had a chance to look at

▶ 24:42 Speaker 3: thank you whereas the people of the city of melrose have the utmost gratitude for all men and women who have selflessly served their country and and community in the armed forces, and whereas veterans have paid the high price of freedom by leaving their families and communities, placing themselves in harm's way for the good of many over the good of the few, and whereas the contribution and sacrifice of the men and women from Melrose who served in the armed forces have been vital in maintaining the freedoms enjoyed by our citizens, whereas many men and women in uniform from the city of Melrose have given their lives while serving in the armed forces, And whereas the city of Melrose has a proud tradition of military service and many of our citizens have earned the Purple Heart Medal as a result of being wounded while engaged in combat with enemy forces. Now therefore let it be resolved the Board of Aldermen do hereby proclaim Melrose as a Purple Heart community, one of the few communities in Massachusetts so designated, honoring the service and sacrifice of our nation's men and women in uniform that were wounded or killed all in combat against the enemy to protect the freedom enjoyed by all Americans in witness on this day the first day of May 2017 and here tonight to present the 5th of June 2017 do we have our sign that we can we would like

▶ 26:11 Speaker 3: to present members of the board with your very own Purple Heart sign and your framed proclamation so I have something to oh yes read yours thank you this is

▶ 26:22 Speaker 6: an eager anticipation of this event certificate of appreciation presented to Melrose Massachusetts I'm becoming a Purple Heart community in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts honoring all who made the ultimate sacrifice and those who are wounded in action by the hand of the enemy while defending our country in all wars from Melrose Massachusetts as well as honoring August 7th as Purple Heart Day signed Brian White commander of the Western Mass

▶ 26:50 Peter D. Mortimer: chapter mr. president I make a motion that we accept the designation of the

▶ 27:13 Speaker 1: city of Melrose as a purple hot city thank you very much

▶ 27:18 Speaker 3: would you guys like to take some photos motion for a short recess before that I

▶ 27:22 Speaker 1: want to call the vote on the session to recommend the order there's been a motion to recommend the order all those in favor please indicate by saying aye Aye. Aye. Anyone opposed? The motion passes. Alderman Forbes is moving for a brief recess. Second. Second by Alderman Mortimer. On the motion, all those in favor? Aye. Aye. Anyone opposed? The motion passes. The board is in recess.

▶ 27:43 Speaker 8: Thank you folks.

▶ 29:33 Speaker 1: Thank you. I'll see you in the neighborhood.

▶ 29:42 Speaker 5: Thank you, I'll see you in the neighborhood, all right.

▶ 29:43 Speaker 4: So, Lisa, right?

▶ 30:11 Speaker 5: Thank you so much.

▶ 30:11 Speaker 7: I'll try.