2nd Annual MA Iraq & Afghanistan Fallen Heroes Memorial Dinner to be held December 9th at Boston Convention Center
Memorial will honor Bay State Fallen Heroes who served in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom
BOSTON, Nov. 28, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- State leaders will join Gold Star families, those who have served and those who continue to serve on Friday, December 9th, for the 2nd annual Massachusetts Fallen Heroes Memorial Dinner at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center. Last year's Dinner was a tremendous success; more than 1,200 guests attended and $160,000 was raised for the Memorial.
The Massachusetts Iraq and Afghanistan Fallen Heroes Memorial Fund was founded in 2010 by local decorated military members, veterans and Gold Star families. Governor Patrick designated the Fund as the official nonprofit partner designated to raise funds for a permanent Memorial for our fallen heroes and their families. The Dinner is the major fundraiser for a permanent Memorial to honor Massachusetts military members who gave their lives through service in Iraq and Afghanistan and related operations. In addition to supporting the state Memorial, event sponsorships will allow Gold Star Families who lost a loved one to attend the dinner free of charge.
The Honorable Francis J. "Bing" West will deliver the keynote address. A Dorchester native, West has written eight books on national security. As Assistant Secretary of Defense in the Regan administration, he chaired the United States Security Commissions with El Salvador, Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Jordan, Oman, Pakistan, South Korea and Japan. A Marine platoon commander in Vietnam, he was a member of the Force Reconnaissance team that initiated Operation Stingray – small unit attacks behind enemy lines.
Country rock band, Digger Dawg, will be the featured performer. Digger Dawg has traveled overseas to Iraq and Kuwait to perform for our troops and hold a special place in their hearts for our military.
While the ultimate goal of the Memorial Fund is to build a permanent statue to honor the nearly 140 Bay state residents who made the ultimate sacrifice, last year the Fund completed their first project: an interactive video tribute or "moving memorial" that includes a database searchable by last name and community. Originally announced at a State House ceremony in 2009, the interactive touch screen video tribute was nearly abandoned due to a lack of private funds needed to complete the project. In the summer of 2010, Boston Firefighters and local veterans stepped in to raise the funds needed to complete the mobile memorial, and to date the moving memorial has been displayed at the State House and in communities across the state.
"The Interactive Moving Memorial was our first step in honoring Massachusetts fallen heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice in Operation's Iraqi and Enduring Freedom, and it gives residents and visitors alike the chance to learn more about these brave men and women," said Daniel Magoon, executive director of the MA Iraq and Afghanistan Fallen Heroes Memorial. "This past year we have been hard at work fundraising and planting the seeds in what will soon be a permanent Memorial to remember our fallen brothers and sisters. We look forward to sharing details with our guests at the dinner on December 9th."
The Honorary Dinner Committee is a "who's who" of the state's public, community and military leaders: US Senators John Kerry and Scott Brown; US Representatives Michael Capuano, Stephen Lynch, Edward Markey, McGovern, Richard Neal, John Olver, John Tierney, and Niki Tsongas; Governor Deval Patrick, Lt. Governor Timothy Murray, Boston Mayor Thomas Menino, Senate President Therese Murray, House Speaker Robert DeLeo, State Auditor Suzanne Bump, Attorney General Martha Coakley, Treasurer Steven Grossman, Secretary of the Commonwealth William Galvin, former US Ambassador and Boston Mayor Ray Flynn; Gold Star parents Mary Ellen Callahan, Chris Devlin and Steven Xiarhos; Gold Star wife Melanie Nott; Edward Kelly and Rich Paris, presidents of the Professional Fire Fighters of MA and the Boston Firefighters Local 718 respectively; and Tom Lyons, Chairman, Semper Fi Society.
The 2nd annual Massachusetts Fallen Heroes Memorial Dinner will take place Friday evening, December 9, at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center. Tickets are $100 each and include a plated dinner, dancing to a live band, a performance by the Boston Fire Gaelic Brigade pipe and drum band, silent auction items and much more. For details please visit massfallenheroes.org.
SOURCE Massachusetts Fallen Heroes Memorial
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