Post Historian Guest Speaker for Middleboro Historical Association

September 10, 2014

………..On Wednesday, September 10, 2014, Commander Jeffrey Montelo and Robert Lessard of Simeon

L. Nickerson Post 64, American Legion, were guests of the Middleboro Historical Association

during that group’s membership meeting.

………….The Historical Association administers and maintains a complex of buildings and is noted

for its memorabilia collection of Tom Thumb of P.T. Barnum fame and historical artifacts of

the town of Middleboro. It also houses in its museum, a Deborah Sampson room, which features a

plaque honoring the state heroine. Other artifacts are from the Revolutionary War, Civil War

and World War 1.

……… Mr. Lessard, who is Historian of Post 64, introduced Commander Montelo, who welcomed the

Historical Association members to the evening’s activity, which was held in the Associations’

carriage house.

…… Commander Montelo in his remarks to the audience thanked the group for inviting the Legion

Historian to speak about the history the Post.

……….But, Montelo explained, “While Bob was performing research into the Post history and its

many links to the town of Middleboro, he recently found a photo of Nina Louise Seymour among

old files at the Legion hall. Miss Seymour, a Middleboro resident died of pneumonia on October

10,1918 in Toule, France while serving as a Red Cross nurse in during World War 1.”

………. “In addition to the picture, Bob also discovered Nina’s graduation certificate from Hart

Private Hospital, dated October 14, 1913, which recognized her as a Registered Nurse in the

Commonwealth of Massachusetts, “Montello reported.

……….. He continued, “As you know, prior to the meeting we were given a tour of the

Association’s museum building. And, Bob and I were pleased to see a section devoted to Nurse

Seymour.”

………..”As the Post has no public viewing display area, we representing the members of Post 64,

wish to donate these two historical items to the museum. We hope you will accept them and

perhaps place them on display, “said Commander Montelo.

………. Miss Cynthia McNair, president of the Middleboro Historical Association, graciously

accepted the photograph and framed graduation certificate on behalf of the group. She thanked

the Legion for its donations and explained that they would soon be displayed.

………… “Nurse Nina Seymour has her name on the main Casualty Stone in Middleboro’s Veterans

Memorial Park for World War 1. And, a huge bronze plaque purchased for a sum of $750,

dedicated to her, was purchased by the citizens stands in the Public Health.

………..Historian Lessard then described the lengthy history of Post 64 since its’ founding in

1918 through current times. He spoke about the heroics of Sergeant Simeon L. Nickerson, who

was heroically Killed In Action with two other soldiers.

………..The three heroes were awarded the Distinguished Service Cross posthumously.

…………............................Their citation reads:

………………“For extraordinary heroism in action near Epieds, France July 23, 1918. Sergeant

Nickerson, Corporal M. J. O’Connell and Private Ryan volunteered to cross an open field in

front of their company, in order to ascertain the location of enemy machine-guns. While

engaged in this courageous enterprise they were shot and killed. The heroic sacrifice of these

three men saved the lives of many of their comrades who would have been killed had the company

attempted to advance as a whole.”

……….. “The Legionnaires of Post 64 are attempting to have the Distinguished Service Cross

upgraded to a Medal of Honor,” Lessard told the group.

………During his presentation, Lessard told the audience about several of Middleboro’s Vietnam

War casualties, including that of Medal of Honor recipient Navy Corpsman Wayne M. Caron He

concluded his talk with additional information about Simeon L. Nickerson.

……….The Historical Association followed with a thank you letter to the historian. It

reads: “Thank you so much for being our September speaker and for donating to the MHA museum

Nina Seymour’s picture and graduation certificate. These artifacts were added to our Deborah

Sampson War Room.
.....“I also wanted you to know that your presentation was both interesting and entertaining.

We even signed up a new member that night. Sincerely, Cynthia McNair.”