5.25.2026 - Global War on Terror Memorial Ceremony at North Park

Good morning everyone. My name is Taylor Ferris. I'm the director of veteran services for the city of Fall River. I want to thank you all for being here. On behalf of this, the city of Fall River Department of Veterans Services, the Greater Fall River Veterans Alliance, I would like to welcome all of you to today's global war and terror remembrance ceremony here at North Park.

Hello.

Yeah.

Today we gather for a solemn purpose. We gather to remember the men and women who gave their lives during the global war on terror. We gather to honor the families who continue to carry that sacrifice every single day. And we gather to ensure that their names, their service, and their stories are never forgotten. For many Americans, the global war on terror became something distant over time. headlines on

television screens, stories from far away places, names of countries most people would never see for themselves.

But for military families, gold star families, and those who served, it never became distant. For us, it was real. It was birthdays missed, deployments extended, phone calls in the middle of the night, friends who never came home, and lives forever changed by war. And here in Fall River, our community answered the call just like generations before during World War II, Korea, Vietnam, and every conflict before them.

Young men and women from this city step forward after September 11th, willing to serve something greater than themselves. Some return carrying wounds that could not be seen. Others carry wounds nobody else could.

And for some, they never made it home at all. Especially during this year as our nation commemorates 250 years since its founding, we are reminded once again that freedom has always come at a cost.

Generation after generation, ordinary Americans answered the call during extraordinary circumstances. And Fall River answered that call every single time. Thank you all for being here today. At this time, I would like for everyone to please stand as we say the national anthem.

I pledge 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. Please stay standing as I invite Counselor Reposa forward to offer us prayer.

Good morning. Join me in prayer.

God of power and mercy, you destroy war and put down earthly pride. Banish violence in our midst and wipe away our tears that we may all deserve to be called your sons and daughters. Keep in your mercy those men and women who have died in the cause of freedom and bring them safety into your kingdom of justice and peace. We ask this through your holy name. Amen.

Amen.

At this time, I would like to recognize our elected officials, uh, Mayor Coogan, Representative Sylvia, as well as Representative Fiola. Uh, Mayor Coogan, would you please step forward to offer us a couple of words?

Thank you, sir.

Um, obviously, you just did the prayer for us. I also want to acknowledge with us today is uh city councils Andrew Reposa and Linda Pereira.

And there goes our papers. Um losing a paper is nothing like what happened to the families that lost these loved ones throughout conflict across the world. Um I was thinking about that on the way here and what would their history have been? What would they have done? What would they have accomplished?

Who would they be? And it is something that the entire state country loses every time one of these gallant warriors loses their lives. Um it's fitting that we come out on a day when it's raining to honor them. Um because these are times that are sad for these families every year. So thank you all for being here. Um it's very important you showed up and I appreciate all of you on a day like this. Thank you.

Thank you, sir.

At this time, if Representative Fiola would please step forward to offer us a few remarks.

Thank you, Talos.

Very important that we gather here today and every year to honor these fallen heroes. Um, it's a beautiful spot to reflect on the young lives lost. I have a brief little poem, but I felt very much so that I wanted to acknowledge the names of the fallen young men that are represented here today. Private Michael Bhutat killed in action April 22nd, 2006 in Iraq.

Sergeant Robert Barrett, age 20, killed in action April 19th, 2010 in Kabul, Afghanistan.

US Army Specialist Scott Andrews, 21, killed in action June 21st, 2010.

Sergeant First Class Eric Imand, 39, killed in action November 27, 2018.

And while their names are not here because they were killed in service versus action, I would like to acknowledge US Marine Corpal Paul Fugundes.

Killed in service July 4th, 2010 and Private First Class Ethan Gonelo December 11, 2010.

and they stand among the 332 Massachusetts fallen heroes from this war on terrorism. We will never forget because we cannot imagine the pain that you carry as mothers, gold star mothers. I can't even imagine. So, we will always be here. The city of Fall River will always be here for you. And u we thank you for offering up your sons for our country. Thank you.

Thank you, Representative Fiola. At this time, I would like to offer city councilwoman Linda Pereira opportunity to step forward and offer us remarks.

You know, I just talked to the VSO. We were talking about the parade being cancelled by so many communities because of the weather. And he agreed with me.

We agreed on this that in war you're fighting whether it's 120 degrees, if it's raining, if it's snowing. And if our veterans could do that to fight in those weathers for our freedoms, then we can certainly stand in any kind of weather to support them and thank them for what they did. Memorial Day is a sad day, as Rep. Fiola said for many families and you know I look at sitting

on the side of um Representative Sylvia who just lost his grandson a Marine. So you know the lives that are lost for the people who really want to keep our country protected. God bless them and God bless the city of Fall River. We're strong in Fall River. Thank you at this time. Thank you, councelor Pereira. At this time, I would like to offer our gold star mothers an opportunity to step forward and offer us remarks.

Mother, excuse me. Mother the only one here. I'm used to there being more than one.

I am, but I'm not.

Understood. Please.

I'm just one, but yes.

Understood.

I just wanted to say that um I heard another gold star mother on the on the news uh talking this morning.

Am I good?

Yes.

Can you hear me?

Okay. I just wanted to say that I heard another gold star on the news talking this morning and something that she said um just really hit me and it's something I guess that I've always known but it was just so nice to hear it spoken. And it says that our children who were killed in action did not die because they hated what was in front of them.

It's because they loved what was behind them. And that would be us, their nation, their family, their God, their country, and their community.

And I just it just struck me as just being such a profound thing to hear when it's so obvious that that's exactly what it is. But it's also we're very gracious for you a lot of gratitude for you coming out today on this rainy day. Um, I just want to say thank you because we had 20 decades uh two decades of knowing them very up close and personal before their lives were taken from them.

And I can't tell you how blessed I am.

And I know Colleen and Sue feel the same way.

Thank you.

Thank you so much for those personal words.

When most Americans think about Memorial Day, they often think about history.

They think about Normandy, and Gettysburg, Vietnam. But many of us standing here today, the losses of the global war on terror do not feel distant at all. They still feel close because many of us live through it. Some of us deployed into it and some of us buried friends because of it.

Sometimes physically, sometimes emotionally, and sometimes spiritually.

And for many veterans of the global war on terror, the hardest battles began after coming home. Yet, despite everything, generation after generation, still answering the call. After September 11th, young Americans stepped forward, knowing full well what waited for them. They volunteered anyway. Not for fame, not for recognition, but because they believed this country was worth serving. And some paid the

ultimate price for that very reason.

That is why the ceremony like this matters because remembrance is a responsibility and if we fail to remember them then we fail part of the promise we make for every man and woman who wears this nation's cloth especially now during this 250th year of our birth.

We should remember something important.

This nation was not carried forward by politicians or famous names alone. It was carried forward by ordinary Americans. Americans from cities like this one, Ball River. Young men and young women who answered the call during extraordinary moments in history. Some never came home. Today, we remember them. Not as statistics, not as headlines, but as sons and daughters, friends, neighbors, and heroes. And as

long as this city continues to gather here at Snake Hill, as long as their names continue to be spoken, and as long as their memory continues to live within this community, they will never truly be gone.

Thank you.

At this time, we would like to place the ceremonial wreath here at the stone. If I could offer you guys forward to help us move this over here.

Yes, Jo. It's right here in front of us.

I'm sorry.

It's in there pretty good.

May this wreath serve as a symbol of remembrance gratitude and enduring respect of the people of Fall River.

Please join me in a moment of silence.

At this time, Victor Fious, the city of Fall River Rivers Flags and Graves officer, will honor our fallen with plain taps.

Thank you, Victor.

My papers are sticking together here.

I want to thank everyone again for gathering here today. Thank you to our gold star families. Thank you to our veterans. And thank you to I tried. And thank you to our elected officials and community members. Thank you to everyone who continues to ensure that the sacrifices of our fallen are never forgotten. As our nation marks its 250 years of history, we may never forget that freedom was preserved not only by

famous figures and history books, but by ordinary Americans willing to sacrifice for something, something greater than themselves. Many came from cities like ours and answered that call. And many gave everything for that very call. May God bless our gold star families. May God bless our veterans, the city of Fall River, and the United States of America.

Thank you all again for being here today.