Ray Hanks was on a mission. He held fast to the concept of identifying Mattapoisett’s deceased veterans, those who perished in combat and those for whom the hands of time ran out. Little did he know that his then-stated mission would flower into his appointment as chairman of the town’s newest advisory committee.
The newly formed committee will be charged with advising the Select Board on all monuments and memorials considered for placement on public property. That includes such items as memorial benches and bricks but also the care and oversight of two municipal cemeteries, Hammond (located on River Road) and Barlow (located off Park Street)
Hanks’ pursuit of identifying the graves of veterans has begun with members of the committee assisting not only taking inventories of gravesites located in both municipal and private cemeteries but also pursuing the establishment of Mattapoisett as a Purple Heart Community. The town sent a proclamation to the Purple Heart association with supporting documentation of veterans killed in action. In September, the town received confirmation of its acceptance.
In a recent email to the committee members, Hanks shared that during the town’s November 11 Veterans Day ceremony, “the members of the Cemetery/Veterans Advisory Committee will be presented. This will be in conjunction with presenting our induction as a Purple Heart town and the future recognition of our Revolutionary War veterans by the Sons of the American Revolution.”
On that last point, Hanks and others are working on a list of Revolutionary soldiers’ gravesite locations and a plaque that will be appropriately placed on public land listing the patriots’ names.
The recognition of Purple Heart recipients is dear to Hanks, having worked with other communities to recognize their war dead, one that included a family member. We found the following on the American Revolution Institute website: “George Washington created the Badge of Military Merit — the first American military decoration for enlisted men — on August 7, 1782.” It would later evolve into the Purple Heart in 1932.
The commission has selected the style of roadside signage Mattapoisett will display and will work with the Highway Department and Select Board to pick the best locations.
In the background, work continues on recognition of Revolutionary War soldiers. The commission met with Stephen Watts of the Massachusetts Sons of the American Revolution. Watts talked about the program and process necessary for signage that could be prominently placed.
Another endeavor Hanks has brought to the fore is a program of placing holiday wreathes on the graves of all deceased military personnel, regardless of the era of the military enrollment or the stated reason of the deceased passing. Hanks is himself a veteran, former Marine, Vietnam.
By Marilou Newell