Photo:Donna Pointer placing Poppy-flower as a remembrance symbol on wreath

Photos by Michelle Sinclair and Harry Agritha
By Tom Ford

This past Sunday morning under rainy conditions, dozens of veterans and family members gathered at the Somerville Veterans Cemetery that’s located at 1330 Broadway in Somerville for an annual Somerville Memorial Day Wreath Laying Ceremony.

The ceremony included the following attendees and their guests:

Commander Norman R. Furtado
American Legion Post #19
VFW Dilboy Post 529 Board of Directors
Senior Vice Commander DAV Chapter #27 Somerville, MA.

Gale Mahan-Furtado
American Legion Post  #19 Auxiliary
VFW Dilboy Post 529

Commander Bob Hardy
District #18 Commander VFW

Michael P. Sullivan
Past State Senior Vice Commander DAV
Member DAV Chapter #27 Somerville, Ma.
Auxiliary member VFW Post 529
Junior vice Commander American Legion Post #19

Dianne Sullivan Past DAV state Auxiliary Commander
Past president VFW Auxiliary Post 529
Auxiliary member Chapter DAV Chapter #27,
VFW Dilboy Post 529 Auxiliary past president and current member

Tom White Past commander DAV Chapter #27 Somerville, Ma.Chaplin American legion Post#19. Mark Killoren Commander Elect this September American Legion Post#19, VFW member, DAV member Chapter#27 Somerville, Ma.

William Westgate Past Commander Sons of the American Legion Post#19

Randy Comeau American Legion Post#19, VFW member, DAV member

William Tauro and his wife Marisa

Also in attendance was Donna Pointer accompanied by her husband. Donna is sister to the late PFC Ronald J. Pointer who was born on October 6th 1949 and was killed on September 17th, 1968 in Vietnam. PFC Ronald Pointer is also buried in the Somerville Veterans Cemetery

The event was hosted by Somerville News Weekly Publisher/ Somerville Mayoral Candidate William Tauro. Tauro also hosted a reception immediately following the ceremony at Renee‘s Café free of charge with an open invitation to the public where all were welcome.

Tauro offered and volunteered to host the event after hearing that the city of Somerville was not intending to conduct the annual memorial ceremony for the veterans. Just recently, the city announced that they would reconsider and also be conducting their own event on Monday following Tauro‘s event on Sunday.