On April 19, 2008, the U.S. Army Soldier Systems Center (SSC), Natick, MA, held a memorialization ceremony renaming streets and buildings after 32 Medal of Honor recipients and two distinguished service members (who served before the medal was in existence) affiliated with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. BG R. Mark Brown, SSC Commanding General (CG) and Program Executive Officer (PEO) Soldier, said that it was a “special day for the Natick facility and, hopefully, for Massachusetts as well.”

April 19 is Patriot’s Day in the state, a day that commemorates the first battles of the American Revolution, so Brown spoke about the battles of Lexington and Concord and about the Minutemen of those battles becoming our first Army. Afterwards, Brown said he takes great pride in how Massachusetts continues to play a role in the lives of Soldiers through the SSC.

Brown said SSC is the last active Army installation not only in Massachusetts, but in all of New England, so he thought it was fitting that the buildings and streets were renamed for people from the area who made such significant contributions to their country. He specifically mentioned the recipients whose families were in attendance at the ceremony. Two Medal of Honor recipients were also in attendance — Thomas Hudner and Secretary of Veterans’ Services for Massachusetts Thomas G. Kelley — and Brown said it was “an honor and privilege” to have them at the ceremony.

In his closing comments, Brown spoke of how today’s generation of Soldiers honor the legacy of those who came before them, and specifically mentioned the Medal of Honor recipients who posthumously received awards for service in Iraq and Afghanistan.

CSM Jeffrey Mellinger, U.S. Army Materiel Command (AMC), who represented AMC CG GEN Benjamin S. Griffin, said that not one of our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, or Marines gets up thinking he is going to earn an award that day. They are just doing the great things they do for our country every day, such as protecting liberty and freedom. He continued by saying, “if we reflect back on our country’s history, our service members have long demonstrated gallantry in hostile environments and we get to honor some today.”

He then asked the families of Medal of Honor recipients Joseph Xavier Grant, Charles MacGillivary, Frederick Murphy, and Charles Turner to stand and be recognized. “The recognition of these valiant warfighters serves to be a reminder of the sacrifices and benefits made on our behalf. These men provided selfless service to our Nation,” Mellinger said.

Medal of Honor recipient and Secretary of Veterans’ Services for Massachusetts Thomas G. Kelley spoke next, after he received a standing ovation. Kelley told a story about MacGillivary that wasn’t in his citation. “After he was wounded, Germans had surrounded his group and were shouting in English that if they surrendered, the Germans would help them and feed them, and some of the group believed them. MacGillivary said, ‘You can’t believe a word they say. Keep fighting.’ And they did.”

Those who have received the Medal of Honor wear it on behalf of all those who distinguish themselves in battle. Kelley said he wanted to publicly thank the men and women serving in trouble spots around the world today. “We appreciate your service,” he said.

The official party, consisting of Brown, Mellinger, Hudner, and Kelley, then unveiled a lithograph of William Carney, the first African-American and first Massachusetts Medal of Honor recipient. With the unveiling of the lithograph, all buildings and streets were dedicated.

Families and guests then viewed the plaques commemorating the various recipients. Buildings were chosen based on background of the recipient and the current work being performed. MacGillivary’s family felt that the former research building, also known as Building 3, was the correct choice to honor him.

Brown said the day’s ceremony was important to reestablish how vitally important Natick and Massachusetts are to the Armed Forces for the service they provide to the country.

Article courtesy of the Natick Public Affairs Office.