🔨 Remembering Two Sons of Framingham
Thank you to all those who served our country.
Happy Veterans Day, Framingham.
This morning Framingham celebrated its veterans of yesterday and today with a tour of the cemeteries, followed by a ceremony in the Memorial Building.
During the ceremony, the Medal of Liberty and Medal of Fidelity were presented. The Medal of Liberty is presented to family members of those who were killed in action, died in service while in a combat area in the line of duty or died as a result of wounds received in action.
The Medal of Fidelity is presented to the family of service members who died as the result of either: combat-related post-traumatic stress disorder, condition resulting from a service connected traumatic brain injury or a combat connected disease, condition or injury related to the exposure to harmful toxins, herbicides, agents or materials, where the exposure occurred while serving in the Armed Forces of the United States, active or reserve components, or the Massachusetts National Guard.
Medals of Liberty was awarded posthumously to Captain Richard W. Higgins and Staff Sergeant Scott J. Metcalf. The Medal of Fidelity was awarded in memory of Staff Sergeant Howard MacGlashing, Sergeant George M. Mitchell, Captain Larry A. Morse, and Specialist Four Donald J. Weir.
106 years ago today, at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, the the armistice was signed ending The Great War.
This week’s letter is about two young men who paid the ultimate sacrifice during World War I. They grew up on opposite sides of town, and only met each other when they traveled thousands of miles away from home.
For a town of nearly 13,000 people, Framingham was bustling in the summer of 1917. That April the United States declared war on Germany. The country entered World War I. What was occurring across the Atlantic quickly came home.
Workers at local manufacturing companies, like Long and Dennison, were hard at work making rifles, ammunition belts, backpacks, gas mask repair kids, and tags for bombs.
Camp Framingham at the Musterfield was activated as a mobilization station.
The newly organized 26th Division of the U.S. Army, more famously known as the Yankee Division due to its make up of New England National Guard units, left the Musterfield for France.
Many of Framingham’s sons found themselves in the 101st Infantry of the Yankee Division far away from home.
Some found comfort with the spiritual guidance of Father Michael J. O’Connor of Saint Bridget Church, chaplain of the 101st. Fr. Mike, as he was called, brought with him an American flag made by the Sisters of Mary in Burlington, Vermont. That flag returned to Framingham after the war, and sits in Saint Bridget Church today.
But it was here in France where Corporal James J. McGrath and Sergeant Fred S. Murphy bonded over their Irish heritage and their beloved hometown of Framingham.
McGrath of Saxonville and Murphy of South Framingham never met before the Army. McGrath lived on Meadow Street and worked at Dennison. Murphy lived near Waverly Street. He worked at Long’s Manufacturing.
McGrath enlisted in L Company, 9th Regiment, Massachusetts National Guard, days after war was declared.
McGrath volunteered for a raid on the German line at the Rupt De Mad River in northeast France. While trying to alert the troops of a German advance, he was killed. It was May 31, 1918 - the first day of the raid. He was 25 years old.
McGrath was the first Framingham native and first from Saxonville to be killed in World War I.
Moments after McGrath had fallen, Murphy fell sick. German and American gasses drifted into the valley where the 101st were traveling. He died three days later in a hospital on June 2, 1918. He was weeks shy of his 24th birthday.
McGrath’s remains are interred at Saint Mihiel American Cemetery and Memorial in France. Murphy came home. His final resting place is St. Stephen’s Cemetery.
These two men from opposite sides of Framingham were brothers in arms.
They paid the ultimate sacrifice. Today we honor them with McGrath Square in Saxonville and Murphy Square at Winthrop and Waverly Streets in Coburnville.
Drive around Framingham and you’ll find more memorials, squares, bridges, and streets named after Framingham’s sons and daughters who gave their lives in service. Each person was a son or daughter, brother or sister, father or mother, friend and neighbor. Their selfless acts of courage should never be forgotten. Their stories should be told over and over.
It is the sacrifice of those lost in World War I that inspired the construction of the Memorial Building a decade later. The Memorial Building was built to serve as a center of civic and cultural life and “a memorial to soldiers, sailors, marines and nurses of the town.” More than 2500 names are listed in bronze on the walls as you enter the building.
To the thousands of Framingham residents who have served our country - thank you. To the Gold Star Families of Framingham - we will never forget your loved one.
80th Anniversary of Cushing Chapel
The chapel, one of the last remaining buildings of Cushing Hospital, marks its 80th anniversary this year.
Join the community on Sunday, November 17 at 2:00pm for a ceremony, followed by an Open House at 3:00pm. The keynote speaker is City Historian Frederick Wallace, author of Pushing For Cushing.
The public is invited to take tours of the chapel.
The Civic Week Ahead
Tuesday, November 12
Wednesday, November 13
Thursday, November 14
6:00pm: Board of Library Trustees Access and Equity Subcommittee Agenda
Friday, November 15
5:01pm: Registrar of Voters Agenda
In Closing…
I’ll be back with our regularly scheduled program next week. Same bat-time, same bat-channel!
-Mary Kate
Thank you Mary Kate! I would have to agree with Nick on this posting!
In
In my 35 years related to Veterans events and history and Framingham I have never seen such an accurate encapsulated history of Framingham Veterans in the past 20th century