1927:- January 3….Voted that the $550.00 made by Legion show be spent all or in part for upkeep of building. Voted that $1.30 be paid Paul Pearson for work done on cesspool. A snappy talk was given by Thomas Buckley of Abington on the National Convention. April 4…. Voted that the Adjutant be authorized to buy five hundred two cent envelopes and five hundred one and one half cent envelopes. August 29…. Past Commander McCrillis..
Japan surrenders .............It was on Wednesday evening, August 15, 1945, when President Truman officially announced that Japan had surrendered. Middleboro residents were alerted at three minutes after seven p.m. as fire whistles “blasted out the news with 10 blows and the bells of churches pealed in rejoicing. The citizens flocked into the streets. Auto horns blared. At 7:15 p.m. the fire whistles sounded the call for the State Guard,” so declared the front page write-up..
Legion To Install Officers
.........................................................MIDDLEBORO GAZETTE:- The Simeon L. Nickerson Post 64 American Legion will conduct a public installation of officers Friday evening September 23 at the local town hall, officials of the post..
May 26, 2003 ………….. Memorial Day:- More than 200 residents, veterans and auxiliary members, members of the Middleboro High School band and town officials gathered in Town Hall auditorium for Memorial Day services. Rain had canceled the parade and outdoor services. …………. Among those attending the holiday observances were descendants of World War 1 veterans, and it was a special day for them. ………….Included in the day’s activities was a re-dedication of the World War..
...............MIDDLEBORO GAZETTE: By Bob Lessard American Legion Simeon L. Nickerson Post 64 .........On the 23rd of July it will be 94 years since Sergeant Simeon L. Nickerson of Middleboro, Corporal Michael J. O'Connell of Jamaica Plain and Private Thomas A. Ryan of Boston were heroically Killed In Action in France in World War 1, while serving with Company D, 101st Infantry, 26th Division. ………………Members of the Middleboro Veterans Council, which consists of VFW John Glass..
…………………….By Bob Lessard, Historian Post 64 American Legion.........Fifteen Middleboro residents, who were serving their country in World War 1, lost their lives during the conflict declared against Germany on April 6, 1917. Fourteen military men and Red Cross Nurse Nina Louise Seymour were among Middleboro’s casualties. ………..An influenza epidemic caused nine of Middleboro’s military to lose their lives due to the flu or pneumonia. ………..NINA LOUISE SEYMOUR lost her life as a volunteer nurse due..
.........................REMEMBER THE FALLEN .........................CHARLES EDWARD REED, NAVY WW1 .........................By Bob Lessard Historian ........................ American Legion Post 64 .........................Published Gazette 5/12/2017 ..........(Periodically, the Gazette will publish biographical sketches of Middleboro’s war casualties. This is intended to remember the sacrifice of all veterans and those who gave their lives in the service of our country. ALL GAVE SOME, SOME GAVE ALL.) .......The death of Ensign Charles E. Reed of the United States Navy in World War 1,..
Roger Charles Keedwell. Army, WW1 By Bob Lessard for Middleboro Gazette Historian American Legion Post 64 ............(Periodically, the Gazette will publish biographical sketches of Middleboro’s war casualties. This is intended to remember the sacrifice of all veterans and those who gave their lives in the service of our country.) .....Young Roger Keedwell caused moments of worry on several occasions for his family during World War 1. The first time concerned his disappearance at age 15...
REMEMBER THE FALLEN .........................EARL L. CASEY KILLED IN FRANCE DURING WW2 .........................BY Bob Lessard .........................Historian Post 64 American Legion ......(Periodically, the Gazette will publish biographical sketches of Middleboro’s war casualties. This is intended to remember the sacrifices of all veterans and those who gave their lives in service to our country.) ......United States Army Private First Class Earl Leonard Casey, 34, was killed in action on July 8, 1944. His wife Helen (Mannion) of 26..
2017 Veterans Day……November 11, 2017
………………………………………..Middleboro’s 2017 Veterans Day parade was canceled due to forecasted frigid artic and windy conditions. The parade cancelation was due primarily to the planned participation of more than 15 World War 2 veterans as Grand Marshalls, who were to be honored and recognized by riding in convertibles.
BY BOB LESSARD
Historian Post 64 American Legion
...........................................(Periodically, the Gazette will publish biographical sketches of Middleboro war casualties. This is intended to remember the sacrifices of all veterans and those who gave their lives to our country. A slogan which reflects thoughts about our veterans states: “ALL GAVE..
REMEMBER THE FALLEN
RUSSELL W. TRIPP KILLED IN ACTION IN GERMANY
WHILE WITH PATTON’S 3RD TANK BATTALION
By Bob Lessard, Post 64 Historian American Legion
REMEMBER THE FALLEN
ROBERT F. TOWNES, JR WAS NINTH TO DIE IN VIETNAM
By Bob Lessard
Historian Post 64 American Legion
(Periodically, the Gazette will publish biographical sketches of Middleboro’s war casualties. This is intended to remember the sacrifices of all veterans and those who gave their lives to our country...
REMEMBER THE FALLEN
PNEUMONIA CLAIMS LIFE OF WW2 ARMY PRIVATE EDWARD E. PIERCE
By Bob Lessard
Historian Post 64 American Legion
(Periodically, the Gazette will publish sketches of Middleboro’s war casualties. This is intended to remember the sacrifices of..
At the March meeting of the American Legion Simeon L. Nickerson Post 64, the members gathered to honor the family of Bill and Cindy Seckinger, owners of Muckey's Liquor Store in Lakeville. For over a decade the Seckingers have not only worked with local veterans but have supported their many fundraising activities.
It all started when then Post Commander Don Triner and Past Commander Bob Burke attended their fist Department Convention and found a case of..
REMEMBER THE FALLEN
STAFF SERGEANT ROBERT S. STUART
KILLED IN B-24 BOMBER CRASH
By Bob LessardHistorian, Simeon L. Nickerson
Post 64 A.L.
REMEMBER THE FALLEN
WILLIAM M. SMITH VIETNAM M.I.A.
DECLARED DEAD BY HOSTILE ACTION
By Bob Lessard
Historian Simeon L. Nickerson Post 64 A.L.
(Periodically, the Gazette will publish biographical sketches of Middleboro’s war casualties. This is intended to remind our citizens of the sacrifices..
A former Middleboro resident, William "Bill" Nickerson, who has been living in the Sarasota, FL area since retiring from a US Navy career in 1974, celebrated his 87th birthday on March 25th.
Nickerson, a member of Middleboro'a American Legion Simeon L. Nickerson Post 64 served aboard a host of Navy ships including the carrier Essex. His career of 20 years saw service during the Korean and Viet Nam wars.
He lived at 41 East Main St (Star..
REMEMBER THE FALLEN
Vietnam Claims Third Middleboro Man
Douglas R. Mohrmann Killed In Action.
By Bob Lessard
Historian Simeon L. Nickerson Post 64 American Legion
(Periodically, the Gazette will publish..
A large spruce tree in the Veterans Memorial Park at Middleboro Town Hall, a memorial to one of two Medal of Honor recipients from Middleboro, was uprooted during a winter stormm in March of this year and has been waiting for a fix since then. Last week, a crew from Mockingbird Hill Tree and Lawn Service in Lakeville comfirmed soil conditions around the tree were agreeable, significantly dried out from the soggy conditions that led..
REMEMBER THE FALLEN
SGT. LEO FORCIER KILLED IN GERMANY,
WHILE LEADING A SQUAD ON PATROL
By Bob Lessard, Historian Simeon L.Nickerson
Post 64 American Legion
(Periodically, the..
REMEMBER THE FALLEN
ARMY SERGEANT BRUCE A. RUSHFORTH
DIES IN COPTER CRASH IN PHILIPPINES
By Bob Lessard Historian, Simeon L. Nickerson
Post 64, American Legion
(Periodically, the Gazette will publish biographical sketches..
Middleborough's Simeon L. Nickerson Post 64 American Legion will be sending four Middleboro students to the upcoming week long youth cadet law enforment Student Trooper training program. The Massachusetts State Police conduct the program at their academy in Braintree, Massachusetts.
The four students are being sponsored by Post 64. The quartet from Middleboro High School Brandon Buote, top left; Tyler Tobias, top right; Cameron Rideout, bottom left and Travis Colby, bottom right.
The successful candidates presented good..
Published in the 6/21/2018 Middleboro Gazette
At age 19, USMC PFC Gerald Brian Dorr, born on January 15, 1948 was the first Middleboro serviceman to lose his life in Vietnam.He had joined the Marine Corps on March 28, 1966.
On April 2, 1967, during a combat mission in Quang Nam Province, South Vietnam, Gerald was critically wounded during an enemy attack. It was reported that Gerald was in his foxhole when a hand grenade exploded. He suffered..
From South Coast Today. With plans for a $1.2 million dollar redesign in 2020, one local person is taking the opportunity to make sure the right people are aware Everett Square is technically John Glass Square.
Bob Lessard, American Legion Post 64 Commander and Historian, has been advocating for close to 10 years that the Town of Middleboro officially change the name of Everett Square to John Glass Jr. Square in honor of the World War..
In a follow up to the timeline story of Everett Square being renamed to John F. Glass Square, American Legion Post 64 Commander and Historian Bob Lessard wrote the following letter to Mr. Jonathan Gulliver, Dept of Transportation Administrator.
Dear sir,
As Commander of Middleboro's Simeon L. Nickerson Post 64 American Legion, I wish to advise the Massachusetts Department of Transportation that legally there should not be an "Everett Square" in the Town of Middleboro.
During a special..
Published in Middleboro Gazette, written by Post 64 historian Bob Lessard. Previous biological sketches have been published to remind citizens about veterans and especially those who gave their lives. "ALL GAVE SOME, SOME GAVE ALL".
Mrs. Mary Gauthier of 11 West Grove St. was notified by the US Marine Corps of the accidental death of her son, Alfred Robert Gauthier, 23, on March 24, 1952 at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina by a telegram sent by Major..
REMEMBER THE FALLEN
Navy Seaman Leonard MacDonald Dies
From Head Injury While At Norfolk, VA
By Bob Lessard, Historian, Simeon L.
Nickerson Post 64 American Legion
Published in the Middleboro Gazette, July 26, 2018: Leaders of Middleboro's veterans community meet with the Board of Selectmen on Monday, July 23rd to inform them of several historical happenings and observations.
Commander Bob Lessard, American Legion Simeon L. Nickerson Post 64 told the Board that July 23rd was the exact date 100 years ago that Sgt Nickerson was killed in action in France under heroic circumstances. Lessard then informed the Board about an August 1927..
Post 64 Sons of the Legion Member
Competed in Run to Home Base
Van Jabagjorian, a member of Simeon L. Nickerson Post 64 Sons of the Legion Squadron, competed in the July 28, 2018 Run to Home Base 9K race, which finished at the Boston..
REMEMBER THE FALLEN
RENDERING AID TO WOUNDED
50 YEARS AGO, WAYNE CARON
KILLED IN ACTION..
REMEMBER THE FALLEN
A2C Walter S. Hammond, Jr, 18,
Killed In Auto Crash In Louisiana
By Bob Lessard, Historian Post 64
Siemon L. Nickerson American Legion
(Periodically, the Gazette will publish..
DOUBLE DUTY:-Middleboro’s annual Crazy Days events held throughout the downtown area was held on Friday/Saturday, August 10 & 11. Streets were closed to vehicular traffic as vendors and various volunteer groups displayed their wares.
The town’s two veterans’ organizations took advantage of the visiting..
A brief front page article of the Middleboro Gazette of April 13, 1945 edition informed residents of the death of 19 year-old United States Marine Corps Private First Class Charles W. Teel, Jr., on the island of Iwo Jima. He was Killed In Action, on February 24, 1945, while serving with the 2nd Battalion, 24th Marine Regiment,..
Labor Day travelers driving to Cape Cod on Labor Day week-end were offered free coffee, cold drinks and pastry snacks in Middleboro, MA in the rest area between exits 3 & 4. The annual take a break/safe driving campaign was offered by Simeon L. Nickerson Post 64.
REMEMBER THE FALLEN
VIETNAM VETERAN VINCENT J. FALCONERI
DIES IN SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH AUTO CRASH
By Bob Lessard, Historian,
Simeon L. Nickerson American Legion Post 64
(Periodically, the Gazette will publish biographical sketches of Middleboro’s military casualties. This..
REMEMBER THE FALLEN
NAVY VETERAN HENRY A. BUMP
SERVED DURING WORLD WAR 2,
KILLED IN CAR ACCIDENT IN N.C.
(Periodically, the Gazette will publish biographical sketches of Middleboro’s service casualties. This..
Busy Weekend for Honor Guard
It was a busy weekend for the members of the Middleboro Veterans Honor Guard as on Friday, September 21, the unit rendered honors for a Middleboro resident and Army veteran, who was buried in St. Mary’s Cemetery.
On Veterans Day, November 11, 1966, an Air Force Constellation radar plane with 19 crewmen aboard crashed into the Attantic Ocean. The'plane out of Otis AFB on Cape Cod with 19 crewmen was seen crashing into the ocean by fishing trawlers off Nantucket lsland. No survivors or bodies were recovered.
Among those killed were two Alrmen from Middleboro, Second Class Larry Lee Stoner, 20, of 54 Everett Street and Roger P. Kay,21, of 73 Everett Street...
During Post 64's monthly meeting on October 4th, Commander Bob Lessard and Finance Officer Mary Standish presented Bill Strogny with a plaque and an American Legion long sleeved shirt as "Post 64 Legionaire of the Year. Bill, an Air Force veteran, is noted for his dedicated involvement with Post 64's bi monthly veterans breakfasts and for his preperation of the Posts monthly meals. His dedication to meal selection and cooking prowess is recognized by the..
Twenty-one year old Edward Manning Sylvia, a United States Navy Seaman First Class reservist, succumbed to medical problems on September 26,7947. He had been receiving treatment at the Newport Naval Hospital in Rhode lsland for ten months prior to his passing. Navy officials notified his parents of his death.
Edward, who had joined the Navy on September t6, L943 as a 17 year-old during World War 2. According to published reports, he had been medically discharged..
Residents of Middleboro learned of the passing of United States Army Corporal George Robert Huxley while reading the February 14,1947 edition of the Gazette. His death notice stated,"ln Middleboro, February 10, George Robert Huxley, aged 27 years, one month, six days, at his home, 80 Arch Street..."
George R. Huxley had joined the Army as an enlistee on January 6, L94O in Bhode lsland, where he was initially assigned to the 10th Coast Artillery stationed at..
The somewhat disorienting 5 way intersection at the top of Center St. in downtown Middleboro has been known locally as Everett Square is due to be designed in 2020, but before that, Everett Square had to be renamed, or better yet, re established, as John F. Glass, Jr Square, as it was always supposed to be.
That happened with little or no resistance from those partial to the name "Everett Square", which in all likehood was..
On Sunday, February 3rd the South Middleboro United Methodist church and the American Legion District 10 of Southeastern Massachusetts conducted a memorial service in honor of the four heroic WWII Chaplains. The service was organized by District 10 Chaplain Mary Standish and church pastor Rebecca Hewitt.
Reflecting on the sacrifices of the Four Chaplains is a major annual event of the American Legion. Each year, on the first Sunday in February, local Post members are invited..
Russell Pittsley turned 99 today. He is an active member of the Middleboro Veterans 21 gun salute team. He is the oldest active member of an honor guard firing squad in the United States. Pittsley, who was deployed to the Pacific during World War II. An active member of Simeon L. Nickerson Post 64 he lives in Middleboro, Each day he walks up two flights to his second story apartment, and still drives himself wherever..
An article "Lore of the Legion" in the January, 2019 edition of of The American Legion magazine by editor Jeff Stoffer concerned the dedication of the Tomb of the Unknown at Arlington National Cemetery on November 11, 1921.
As reported in the artwork of the article, Medal of Honor recipients participated as honorary pallbearers at the dedication. Lt Patrick J. Regan of Middleboro was one of those honored. He recieved special orders dated October 17, 1921..
Published May 2, 2019 Gazette
WW1 RED CROSS NURSE NINA SEYMOUR DIES IN FRANCE
By Bob Lessard, Commander and Historian Simeon L. Nickerson Post 64 American Legion
(Middleborough will be celebrating its..
Published May 9, 2019 Gazette
By Bob Lessard ,Commander/Historian
Simeon L. Nickerson American Legion Post 64
United States Army Lieutenant Colonel Ryan Levesque was the guest speaker at last Thursday’s monthly meeting of Simeon L. Nickerson Post 64 American Legion. Currently a student in the Army War College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, he spoke to the veterans about civilian-military relations and the strategic military challenges, which..
By Bob Lessard. Commander/Historian
Simeon L. Nickerson Post 64 American Legion
Published May 23, 2019
After Memorial Day ceremonies on the town hall lawn on Monday, May 27, town residents are invited to help hold two special American flags, the Mt. Rushmore..
By Jon Haglof, Editor
Middleboro Gazette
Memorial Day 2019 was one to remember, as the Middlborough Veterans Council arranged for a special display of the Mount Rushmore and World War2 flags to conclude the annual parade and observances at Memoiral Park.
The flags, which are under the care of Halifax resident Mark Valentine, each measure 90-feet from end to end, and when unfurled with the help of the large crowd gathered for this year's festivities, they covered a..
HALEY FAMILY SENT THREE SONS
TO SERVE IN WORLD WAR ONE
Published July 25, 2019 Gazette
By Bob Lessard, Commander and Historian
Post 64 American Legion
(Middleborough is celebrating its 350th Anniversary this year, while..
Augustine Ouellette Rejected
But Determined To Serve
Published August 8, 2019
By Bob Lessard
Commander and Historian
Post 64 American Legion
(Middleborough is celebrating its 350th Anniversary in 2019, while the Simeon L. Nickerson Post 64 of the American Legion, which was founded on June 23, 1919, will be observing its 100th birthday. From time to time, as part of the dual celebration, we will be offering biographical sketches of some of our town’s World War 1 veterans.)
Augustine J. Ouellette originally..
Augustine Ouellette Rejected
But Determined To Serve
Published August 8, 2019
By Bob Lessard,
Commander and Historian
Post 64 American Legion
Over 125 persons were in attendance on Saturday, August 24 at the 100th Anniversary Celebration banquet for Middleborough’s Simeon L. Nickerson Post 64 of the American Legion. The Post was founded on June 23, 1919 during a meeting of returning soldiers and sailors of WW1.
The event, which was held at the VFW’s John F. Glass, Jr., Post 2188 hall, was highlighted by the announcement that longtime Post 64 Legion member Walter D. Campbell, Jr., had..
Twenty eight former crew members of the USS Caron DD 970 attended the ships annual gathering which was staged for the first time here in Middleboro over the weekend of October 5th. It was billed as a "Hometown Reunion". Lunenburg resident Mike Chappell organized the event with assistance from Paul Provencher, Middleboro's former Veterans Service Officer.
As most local residents know, the destroyer was commissioned in October. 1977 and named in memory of Middleboro's Medal of..
Three Middleboro High School seniors visited with members of Simeon Nickerson Post 64 of the American Legion at a recent meeting. The students, from left to right in the photo, were Aiden Nemer, Shannon Hurley and Carissa Chane spoke about their experiences attending Student Trooper and Girls State programs, respectively. During their visit with the veterans, thetrio enjoyed a home cooked Roast Beef meal prepared by Post 64 chefs, Bill Strojny and Mary Standish. Post..
Published January 24, 2020
Middleboro Gazette Page 1
Walter Campbell, Jr., Named
2019 Legionnaire of the Year
A large group of veterans from the Simeon L. Nickerson Post 64 American Legion and Post 2188 John F. Glass VFW visited with Walter D. Campbell, Jr., at a special award ceremony held at the Nemasket Healthcare Center on Marion Road in Middleborough in early January.
Walter, seen sitting in the center, was the recent recipient of congratulations for receiving the 2019 Massachusetts..
By Bob Lessard, Commander/Historian
Nickerson Post 64 American Legion
Published in Middleboro Gazette 4/16/20
During these trying times with the many concerns over coronavirus, local research revealed that Middleboro was impacted during 1917-18 by the influenza epidemic deaths of ten residents serving with the military during World War 1.
A volunteer with the Red Cross Nursing Corps, Nina Louise Seymour lost her life while rendering aid to our troops in France. She had been in country for only a..
By Bob Lessard ………..
Commander/ Historian
Simeon L. Nickerson
Post 64 American Legion
Published 4/23/2020 Middleboro Gazette
As with nearly everything in the United States, the National American Legion has discontinued most activities throughout the country. In this downtime period, the members of Simeon L. Nickerson Post 64 of Middleboro invite house bound residents to review its historic website called “American Legion Centennial Celebration.”
The Middleboro Post’s website was established at the urging of the National American Legion to..