Lynn veterans and local officials crowded together in the lobby of Lynn City hall last Friday morning, July 25, to mark the 63rd Anniversary of the Korean War Armistice Day, which effectively ended hostilities in the Korean War.
The ceremony was sponsored and organized by the Lynn Office of Veterans Services, with Executive Assistant Director of Veterans Services Mary Cronin-LoPresti and Administrative Clerk of Veterans Services Jeffrey Hollett coordinating the event with the Lynn Consolidated Veterans Council.
Hollett delivered a brief speech highlighting the importance of the Korean War and the continued military presence along 38th parallel, which marks the demilitarized zone separating North and South Korea, and spoke of the difficulty Korean War veterans have faced in gaining recognition for their efforts and sacrifices.
George Fitzhenry, President of the Lynn Consolidated Veterans Council acted as master of ceremony for the event, as Jim DePhilippo and Charlie Swirka read the names of Lynn’s Korean War dead.
Also participating in the ceremony were local veteran and bugler Dick Perry, who played the National Anthem and Taps for the ceremony, Chaplain Peter Lanzalotti and the Lynn English Jr., ROTC, which serves as the Color Guard for Lynn Veterans events.