Massachusetts

Dozens of people honor the 25 men from South Boston who died in the Vietnam War

BOSTON — Paying their respects to fallen heroes, dozens came out to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in South Boston Sunday at the Medal of Honor Park.

“Today is a day where we stop and think and say a prayer for the fallen men and women who made the supreme sacrifice,” said Ed Flynn, Boston City Council president.

The Memorial Day commemoration honors the 25 men listed on the memorial who died in the Vietnam War.

They were all from South Boston.

“It’s a real example and it’s a real example of patriotism that in this divided time, we really need, we really need things that bring us together,” said Congressman Stephen Lynch.

Several veterans laid flowers at the memorial, while a few elected officials spoke to the crowd including Congressman Stephen Lynch and Boston Mayor Michelle Wu.

“I’m always so proud to stand alongside this VFW post and all of our colleagues here to make sure that the city of Boston and this community of South Boston continues to uphold our duty to remember, reflect and hold in gratitude all those who made the ultimate sacrifice,” said Mayor Wu.

Wu says that’s what this holiday is all about - honoring those who fought for this country and never made it home.

“The most important thing of all are the ten words on the memorial, “if you forget my death, then I died in vain” and we think about that every single time we come by here,” said Clerk Michael Donovan of the Superior Court of Suffolk County.