The Fall River Italian American Memorial Ceremony, held on May 24, 2025, honored the brave Italian American men and women who served the United States, many of whom made the ultimate sacrifice. Taylor Ferris, Director of Veteran Services, hosted the event, which included participation from the Sons and Daughters of Italy. Distinguished guests and speakers included Mario Lucio, Joseph A. Marshall, Reverend Andy Stinson, and Mayor Paul Coogan. The ceremony featured an opening prayer by Reverend Stinson, the Pledge of Allegiance, and speeches emphasizing the sacredness of Memorial Day and the contributions of Italian American veterans. Joseph A. Marshall highlighted that Memorial Day is for those who "never made it out of their uniform," while Mayor Coogan pledged to continue the annual ceremony as long as he is mayor. A wreath was laid, and "Taps" was played by Victor Fious, the city's Flag Officer and Graves Officer, followed by a closing prayer. During closing remarks, Taylor Ferris proposed the creation of a new annual youth leadership award for the BMC Durfee High School NJROTC, to be named after Joseph Marshall. Ferris recognized Marshall's leadership and noted that the Veterans Center at Bristol Community College is also named in his honor. The ceremony concluded with a call to remember the freedoms bought by others' lives and to honor them through actions and service.
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Good evening everybody. My name is Taylor Ferris. I'm your director of veteran services for the city of Fall River. Thank you for joining us tonight.
0:10We gather not just to observe a holiday but in sac or excuse me in sacred remembrance of the brave Italian Americans, men and women who serve this country. They've served this country with courage and honor. many of whom gave their lives in the name of freedom.
0:31It is a privilege to stand with all of you today alongside our partners, the Sons and Daughters of Italy, and be joined by Mayor Coogan and our other distinguished guests and speakers. Let the ceremony serve as a living tribute to those we can never thank enough. I now bring forward Mr.
0:51Mario, and please let me say your last name correctly. It's Lucio. Luchio, excuse me.
1:02Lucio, working on that. Thank you, sir.
1:04Give me a hug. I'm glad we were able to get on the on the line together. Thank you. Thanks, sir. It's on the beginning.
1:13Yes. Hello everyone. I asked the guy up above. I says, "You continue do this. I'm not going to listen to you." And he says, "Mario, whatever you wish." So you make it happen. Stop it. But welcome everyone. As a time goes by, I can't believe another year went by. And to look on each and every one of us, we're healthy and we'll keep on do it. Thank you. Thank you for coming. Okay. And I
1:43will give you my good friend, my brother about Joe Marshall. Joe Marshall. Thank you.
1:54Thank you, sir. And now I will welcome Reverend Andy Stinson for our
2:04prayer. I invite you to pray with me.
2:11Blessed Lord, who called us to us all over the busyness of these days to mark this sacred hour in remembrance of those Italian Americans who gave the last full measure of devotion to the nation. Such men as John Basalone and the Fighting Santos have showed us the true commitment and sacrifice looks like. And so as we honor them this evening and we honor Fall River's own, let your spirit
2:37hover over those who raised up this night and also surround us with sacredness of our task to not let them be forgotten to be filled with your gratitude for all they have offered us and to praise you for giving us such heroes to look toward in our celebrations. Come and dwell amongst us as we honor these sons and daughters of America from the Italian shores. In the name of all that is holy, we pray and
3:08who makes all things well. Amen.
3:15If you would please remain standing as we have the pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. All right. Uh with you can go ahead and take your seats. Without further ado, I introduce Joseph A. Marshall.
3:50Thank you.
3:53I'm honored to uh join you here today.
3:57Uh up up. Okay. Is that better? All right.
4:04Thank you. I'm still honored to be here today.
4:08Um, today is a a day to thank all those who gave their lives in the service of our nation. Armed Forces Day is for those still in their uniform. Veterans Day is for those who hung up their uniforms, but Memorial Day is for those who never made it out of their uniform. And Memorial Day is one of the most sacred uh days of the year.
4:34And we're here today to to celebrate it. I guess uh this monument honors and remembers those Italian those of Italian descent who served in the military who gave gave their life so that we all could have the freedom that we enjoy today. Uh never take that for granted. Never take them for granted.
5:00And I'm sure that the families of these heroes don't take them for granted. I congratulate the Sons and Daughters of Italy Lodge 1035 for taking the initiative to erect and maintain this reminder. Never forget. Thank you. And now uh now I'd like to introduce Mayor Coogan please.
5:36Um, first of all, I want to thank everyone for taking time out of their busy schedule for coming. Can't hear me.
5:42Can you hear me now? Okay, I'll talk directly into it. I want to thank everybody for taking time out of their busy schedule to give us a few moments to honor these brave soldiers from Italy who partnered with the United States in almost every battle we've ever fought around the world to be our partners in freedom. Um they they obviously gave the ultimate sacrifice and we keep them in
6:06our in our minds and in our hearts and in our prayers in Fall River and that's exactly what we're doing tonight. And again, let's not forget him. And we'll do this every year. As long as I'm mayor, I will be here to make sure we honor these people of Italian descent who fought so bravely and fairly for our country and their own. Thank you.
6:34At this time, we will have the laying of the wreath.
6:45Okay.
7:19Thank you. Yes, sir.
7:23I'm sorry. Oh, they need more.
7:37Okay. Please remain silent while the playing of taps is observed. The city's flag officer and graves officer, Victor Fious.
8:56Thank you, Victor.
9:04I will now welcome Reverend Andy Stinson back for his closing prayer followed by closing
9:19remarks. Let us pray. Oh Lord, it is your love that will not let us go. As we depart this field from our memorial, let the true spirit of this hour and these sons and daughters of Italy and the sacrifices they have made for our nation go with us. Let us live in such a way that we know from whom such great stock of humanity we come and the way of duty and
9:48honor and country that have been lived out by those who came before us so that we might live it out now. Blessed be all here that as we go forward, we may take with us the grace and the peace and the soloulless of your spirit in which all the saints who came before us now dwell and with whom your kingdom in this world and the next labor together in the
10:15building of it. God bless us this night in the name of the father and the son and the holy spirit. Amen.
10:27Thank you, Reverend Andy. At this year's BMC Dery High School NJOTC Awards, I was honored to be a guest. Uh, and while there, the instructors gave out many deserving awards to our youth here in Fall River.
10:48In that moment, I realized we as a city did not have an award individually for anyone in that group of youth graduating or being a member of the NJROTC here.
11:02So, it was at that moment that I thought of one particular individual uh Joseph Marshall. I have watched you uh from afar uh seen your interactions.
11:15Uh but most of all what I've recognized is your leadership. Uh and uh if I could, I would ask that the um city councilors that are our veteran adviserss uh and mayor Paul Coogan to join me in putting forth uh youth award for the Dery High School in JOTC once a year for one exceptional youth leader.
11:46Now, I know Joel also has the uh Veterans Center at Bristol Community College uh also named after him as well, but I could not think of another person more deserving of of such an honor. So, that is my idea that I put forth. That is the special recognition that I speak of. Yes, sir. As we bring this ceremony to a close, let us not forget that the freedoms we enjoy today were bought with the lives of
12:13others. It is our duty to honor them, not only with word, but with our actions and our service. Thank you for joining us in this remembrance in unity and in gratitude. Have a good evening and thank you