South Boston Holds 39th Vietnam Memorial Ceremony With Generals, Governor, and Mayor

Uncategorized 2026-07-22 clip9051 · Meeting of July 22, 2026

BOSTON — South Boston marks 39th anniversary of its Vietnam Memorial with a call to a new generation. Retired General Stanley A. McChrystal served as guest of honor at the annual commemoration at Medal of Honor Park, joined by Governor Charlie Baker, Mayor Marty Walsh, and Congressman Stephen Lynch in remarks that intertwined the original 1981 tribute to 25 South Boston men killed in Vietnam with the strains of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Baker distributed copies of "A Time to Honor," a commemorative book marking the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War, to veterans in attendance, and announced the Congressional Medal of Honor Society had selected Boston for its convention to coincide with next year's 40th anniversary. A wreath was laid on behalf of more than 1,700 Massachusetts veterans reported to have died from COVID-19. Tom Lyons, the ceremony's longtime organizer, directed his closing plea at newcomers to the neighborhood: "Someday, you will inherit this sacred community tradition — the very best of what South Boston is about."

In the full story:

• Opening Ceremony and Context
• Remarks by Tom Lyons, Vietnam Memorial Committee
• General Stanley A. McChrystal, Guest of Honor
• Remarks by Governor Charlie Baker
• Remarks by Mayor Marty Walsh
• Remarks by Congressman Stephen Lynch
• The complete report — 2,508 words

Source: the Uncategorized 2026-07-22 clip9051 meeting of July 22, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.