Northborough honors its fallen military veterans

By Ed Karvoski Jr., Contributing Writer

 

Northborough – On May 27, downtown Northborough was once again the setting for the town’s annual Memorial Day parade. Stops were made at four monuments for ceremonies emceed by Gerard Bourque, past commander of the Vincent F. Picard American Legion Post 234.

New this year, Bourque placed a wreath at the plaque memorializing Army Spc. Brian K. Arsenault, a Bronze Star and Purple Heart recipient killed in action in Afghanistan at age 28 in 2014. The plaque was unveiled in December 2018 at the future Town Common on West Main Street.

Parade and ceremony participants included members of Picard American Legion Post 234, guest veterans, town and state officials, Scout troops, Boros Cares 4 Troops, and Marine Corps JROTC cadets of Assabet Valley Regional Technical High School in Marlborough. Antique and military vehicles also rode the parade route.

Music was provided by the Algonquin Regional High School Marching Band led by Eric Vincent and Chamber Choir directed by Kathrine Waters, as well as vocalists Mychael David Frankie Mueller.

The parade’s last stop was the Howard Street Cemetery for a ceremony at the Veterans Memorial. An invocation was offered by Pastor Stephen Georgeson of Rice Baptist Church. Speakers were state Reps. Danielle Gregoire (D-Marlborough) and Harold Naughton Jr. (D-Clinton), Selectmen Chair Jason Perreault, and Adam Costello, veterans’ coordinator for Easter Seals of Massachusetts. The ceremony concluded with Navy veteran Rick Nieber announced as 2019 Legionnaire of the Year.

Bourque noted that the Picard American Legion Post 234 will mark its 100th anniversary with an open house in November.