Veterans Memorials in Massachusetts Towns

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To date I have various Veterans Memorials photographed in 112 Massachusetts towns, I hope to add many more this year. as part of my Love and Respect for our Veterans, Past and Present, I have joined the Boston Red Sox Run to Home Base Program with my employer: Technical Communications Corporation in Concord Massachusetts.

The Run to Home Base event was scheduled to take place on July 11, but has been postponed due to COVID-19.

The new date is September 26 and the runners and walkers will chose their own path this year.

This event which is sponsored by the Boston Red Sox in cooperation with Massachusetts General Hospital , raises money for Veterans recovering from PTSD and suffering from "Invisible Wounds of War" . Help is also offered to families struggling to help their loved ones or cope with the loss of a family member. Initially, this program which is of no cost to the Veterans was created for Veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan , it has since expanded to all Veterans of Active duty, including Korea and Vietnam. I will continue photographing the Veterans Memorials in Massachusetts to preserve the memory of our Soldiers who have sacrificed for our Freedom.

I am participating in the Boston Red Sox Run to Home Base event to raise money for veterans with PTSD.

The event typically takes place at Fenway Park and Boston and we walk or run around Boston, ending up at Home Plate at Fenway Park. The program raises money to support the Red Sox Foundation in cooperation with Massachusetts General Hospital, which has a program to help Veterans and their families cope with PTSD. This "Proven" program has been in operation for the past 10 years and has saved many lives.

Due to COVID-19, the event at Fenway Park has been cancelled and we are asked to walk or run at a place of our choice on September 26.

My intention is to walk from the New Hampshire State Veterans Cemetery in Boscawen New Hampshire to the Veterans Home in Tilton New Hampshire. The walk/run around Boston is 5K or 3.1 miles, I will be walking 11 miles, going the "Extra Mile" for our Veterans.

Trip Report:

I started promptly at the New Hampshire State Veterans Cemetery in front of the Gold Star Families Memorial at 10:00 AM on Saturday September 26, 2020

. I chose this memorial because the Home Base event always starts with a Salute to the Gold Star Families, and Yesterday was Gold Star Mothers Day. I followed the Rail Trail from Boscawen to Franklin . Several times the rail trail would come close to Route 3 and I would hear honking, really made me smile and helped me keep my pace.

In Franklin I exited the Rail Trail and continued on Central Street in full view of the passing residents, more honks and encouraging shouts J By 2:30 I started up Clark Street, a bit of a hill for the last stretch, but with the help of a walking stick I made it up to Winter Street in Tilton where the Veterans Home is.

As I turned onto Winter Street I saw 6 Veterans on the lawn cheering me on shouting “Thank You!, almost there J” At the driveway to the Veterans home (another hill lol) there were about 20 Veterans on a balcony clapping and the staff had set up a Finish Line Ribbon for me to break through J At the entrance to the Veterans Home was Fred Caruso, the DJ from MIX 94.1 , several staff members and a Residents Council to present me with a Frame of the Home Base Logo with signatures.

As I handed the Flag to the resident Veterans, I said the Pledge of Allegiance and handed over the flag along with the bracelets and Lapel pins (Thank You so much!) This year I raised Mayflower Money ($1620.00) and was quite pleased with my result. There are 2 ways to be successful in the Home Base event, One with Donations and the other with awareness. The MIX 94.1 Radio spot was very successful in making the local residents aware of the Home Base program.

Thank you to all who sponsored me for this event, it meant a lot to me and it means a lot to our Veterans.

See you Next Year!

Richard Marsh