5.23.2026 Italian American Memorial Ceremony

Good evening everyone. My name is Taylor Ferris and I'm honored to serve as the director of veteran services for the city of Fall River.

On behalf of the city of Fall River Department of Veteran Services, the Greater Fall River Veterans Alliance and the Italian-American War Veterans and the Son and Sons and Daughters of Italy. I would like to welcome all of you to this hallowed place, Veterans Memorial Bsentennial Park observance, honoring the service and sacrifice of Italian-American War veterans who answered the call to defend this nation.

Tonight's ceremony is one rooted in rooted deeply in tradition here in Fall River. For many years, the Sons and Daughters of Italy helped carry forward this observance and ensured the contributions and sacrifices of Italian-American veterans remained visible and remembered within our within our community. Their commitment to heritage patriotism family and service helped build this tradition into what it is today.

We thank them for continuing to preserve that legacy for future generations.

This evening we gather not only as a as veterans and family but as a community united in remembrance.

At this time I would ask that everyone please rise as we say the pledge of allegiance.

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. You may be seated.

At this time, it is my honor to invite Reverend Andy Stinson to offer tonight's invocation.

Join me in prayer.

Creator God, you have made us in your image and so too we are called to remember. You have given us steel and stone that we might carve monuments with that great deeds and heroic names have been enshrined upon them. Tonight, we gather at this memorial of the Italian-American War veterans to tell the stories of over the over two million Italian Americans from our nation that have served its

armed forces. Stories that we fail to hold completely, even just the ones in our city. And so we add our own words to their story this evening. with all the graces of freedom that we lift up in this great heritage, we might endeavor to be as you are, oh God, and beseech you to bless our night. Let the remembrances of this night be the true signs of service given, and let the recognition not point towards our

earthly efforts, but towards the building of your city in this world. And so bless the Italian-American war veterans and all who who love them and all who have stood by them and all who have borne and made sacrifices for our nation. So that knowing all this, the true and the good and the beautiful that may may rest with us in their tradition and our whole nation and city. And so let the Italian-American War veterans

this night and their sacrifice be known by your blessing in our ceremonies this evening. We pray this all in your holy name. Amen.

Thank you, Reverend Stinson.

I would also like to recognize and thank all of our veterans, gold star families, elected officials, members of the city council, school committee, and our state representatives and community leaders and supporters who have joined us here tonight. Your continued support of these Memorial Day traditions throughout the city of Fall River more mean more than words can properly express. At this

time, I would like to invite Mayor Paul Coogan forward to offer his remarks.

First of all, I do want to thank everybody for coming out today. This is another one of those Memorial Day services we do every year to uh acknowledge a very important piece in the puzzle, our Italian Americans and their tremendous contributions to this country. They fought with us. They're our good partner now and they work with us all the time whether it's in the United Nations or across the world.

Italian-Americans have played such a vital role in the United States and to honor the people that gave the ultimate sacrifice today at this special special place is very important to all the residents of the city of Fall River. And again, thank you for coming out. I do want to acknowledge all of our um representatives from Bristol County, Miss Fall River, Miss Fall River. I I'll probably say one wrong, but um these

young ladies come out and support our city day in day out, and we want to thank them. At the same time, we thank everybody else. So, thank you all very much.

Thank you, Mayor Coogan. At this time, I would like to invite our state representatives, Carol Fiola and Alan Sylvia forward to offer words.

Thank you, Talos. Nice to be here with everyone tonight to honor our Italian American veterans. As a member of the Sons of Italy of the Fall River uh chapter, it gives me great pride to be here as we acknowledge these Italian American heroes who gave their life for our country of the United States of America. So we'll, as we do throughout Memorial Weekend and Veterans Weekend, we continue to show up and thank our

heroes and their families for their sacrifice because we want to let them know that the city of Fall River will never forget. Thank you for being here very much.

Just to mention, u again, it's great to see young people here. Um, in years past we had terrible weather, wind and rain and uh, but it's kind of nice tonight.

Not bad at all.

U, and we're unique in Fall River because of course we're doing Italian American war veterans right now and about an hour and a half we're doing the Gold Star and uh, Polish uh, war veterans tomorrow morning. Uh, it's unique in the sense that most communities don't do that. most communities just take all of veterans who have didn't come back home and and do one one event. But um it's important

that we do that. Um I would like to see more people here. Unfortunately, you're here and that's most important. Thank you all for being here.

Thank you.

Thank you, state representatives.

There is something special about gathering like this in Fall River. This city has always been shaped by generations of families who came here searching for opportunity, carrying with them culture, traditions, faith, and values. And among those communities, Italian-Americans helped leave a lasting work and mark of their identity on the city of Fall River. They built businesses, worked in the mills, raised

families, served their churches, supported their neighborhoods, and when this country called upon them in times of war, they answered. That legacy of service matters, especially tonight, especially during this Memorial Day season. Any and especially during this historic year as our nation marks 250 years since the founding of the United States of America. For 250 years, Americans from every background have

stepped forward to defend this country and the ideals upon which it was founded. And Italian Americans were part of that story every step of the way.

From World War I to World War II, Korea, Vietnam, the Global War on terror, and every generation in between, Italian-American service members fought with courage, sacrifice, and pride for a nation their families deeply believed in.

and many never came home. That is why we are gathering here tonight. Not simply to celebrate heritage, not simply to continue tradition, but to remember. To remember the sons, daughters, fathers, brothers, sisters, and neighbors who gave their lives and service to this country. Memorial Day is one of the few moments that still brings together people across generations. Because deep down, Americans still understand

something important. Freedom comes at a cost. And communities like Fall River understand sacrifice better than most.

Tonight, standing here along at the waterfront at Veterans Memorial Bsentennial Park, surrounded by veterans, families, and neighbors, there is also something hopeful in this moment. Because despite everything happening in the world around us, people still come together to remember.

People still care enough to gather, to honor, to teach younger generations, and to ensure these stories are not lost.

And that matters. And it says something good about this city. So tonight, let us continue carrying forward that spirit of remembrance and unity. Let us honor those we lost, support those who served, and ensure that future generations understand the meaning behind ceremonies like this one. Because as long as we remember them, their legacy lives on.

At this time, well, the wreath is already laid, but I'd like to move it on this side with either of the state reps or uh the city councelor mind joining me up here. Thank you. So, we're just going to move this to the proper side.

May this wreath serve as a symbol of remembrance, gratitude, and the enduring respect of this community for those who sacrificed help preserve the freedoms we enjoy today.

We will now pause for the playing of taps performed by the city's city of Fall River's flag and graves officer Victor Fious.

Thank you, Victor. At this time, I would like to invite Reverend Andy Stin or excuse me, I would like to invite Father Rob Ninkovich forward. Okay, I'll invite Reverend Stinson forward to offer us the benediction.

Says I'm here to support.

Join me again in prayer.

Lord, we come before you this night with an embarrassment of riches, an embarrassment of blessings that all the Italian American soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines that gave service to this nation, that laid down their lives, the nearly 10% of all those who served in World War II came with an Italian American name.

We stand on their legacy. We stand on the world that they have built. We stand in this place having being the very beneficiaries of their sacrifice. Let us be mindful this night as we depart this place that we go forward not only with your blessing and not only with their blessing, but with the great and grand responsibility to continue to build and to continue to defend and continue to

hold true things that they defended with the last full measure of their being.

Lord, we pray this in your name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Thank you, Reverend Stinson. And thank you again everyone who joined us here tonight. Thank you to the Italian-American War veterans, sons and daughters of Italy, our elected officials, veteran organizations, Victor Fious, and all those who continue to support these important Memorial Day observances throughout the city of Fall River. May we continue to honor the memory of those we lost. May we continue

to preserve these traditions of remembrance and may we continue teaching future generations the importance of service, sacrifice, family, and unity.

May God bless the veterans. May God bless our gold star families at the city of Fall River in the United States of America. Thank you all for attending.