MELROSE — The City of Melrose and Veteran’s Services Department invites families to honor the veterans in their life, living or deceased, with an inscribed brick to be placed at the Vietnam Veterans’ Reflection Area memorial. The bricks, which can honor veterans who served in peace or war at any time, will be added to the memorial ahead of the City’s annual Memorial Day ceremonies.
“We encourage community members to honor the men and women of Melrose who have served our country by dedicating a brick to be placed in their name,” said Mayor Paul Brodeur. “It is a small, but honorable, gesture to express the gratitude we feel for their service to our country. I look forward to our annual Memorial Day parade and ceremonies, along with continuing to work closely with the Veterans’ Services Department to find other ways to honor our service members, both alive and deceased, throughout the year.”
Bricks are 4” x 8”, allowing for three lines of text. Red bricks denote a Vietnam veteran while gray bricks denote all other service members. Bricks can be purchased for $150 with a check made out to “City of Melrose” with “Vietnam Reflection Area” in the memo line. Order forms are due by March 31, 2023, to the Veterans’ Services Office at the second floor of the Milano Center at 201 W Foster St, Melrose, MA. Residents can also receive help with filling out the form when visiting the Milano Center, if needed.
To place an order for a brick for a veteran, download and complete the following order: www.cityofmelrose.org/sites/g/files/vyhlif3451/f/uploads/vietnam_reflection_area_bricks_order_form_2022.pdf. Please contact Veterans’ Services at vso@cityofmelrose.org or (781) 979-4186 with any questions.
The city would also like to remind residents to come out and show support for our community’s veterans by participating in the City’s Memorial Day Parade, taking place on Sunday, May 28, as well as other events and ceremonies taking place that weekend. The city encourages individuals and businesses alike to get involved.
Those who wish to participate or volunteer in the Memorial Day Parade should contact the Mayor’s Office at (781) 979-4440 or email Lily Martin, Communications & Community Outreach Coordinator for the City of Melrose, at lmartin@cityofmelrose.org.
