Charlie Breitrose
Watertown Veterans Service Agent Mark Comeiro, right, would like to create a Vietnam Memorial in Watertown.
The Town of Watertown has memorials to veterans of several wars, including World War I, World War II and Korea, but not for Vietnam. Watertown Veterans’ Agent Mark Comeiro wants to change that.
Watertown has around 600 Vietnam veterans, Comeiro said, but nothing to honor them.
“The Vietnam Memorial would be for all Vietnam veterans of Watertown — killed in action, combat, Vietnam era,” Comeiro said. “It wouldn’t have names on it. It would be stone representing our Vietnam veterans of Watertown. Right now we don’t have anything.”
On June 24, 2018, a plaque will be dedicated to one of Watertown’s own killed in Vietnam — Paul Sullivan. The ceremony will be at the playground named for Sullivan, and at the same time a flag pole will be dedicated to Vietnam veterans, Comeiro said.
He wants to do something more, and Comeiro said he would be fulfilling the wish of a Vietnam vet from town who recently passed away.
“We lost James Dorsi (on May 24). James Dorsi is a lifelong Watertown resident, born and grew up, and he died from cancer from Agent Orange exposure age 68,” Comeiro said. “This was his project. He came to me. He wanted to have a memorial built, and then he passes on before we can even do that.”
The spot where Comeiro is eying for the memorial is on the Watertown Square Delta.
“I want it to be big and I want everyone to be able to walk to it, see it, and just remember our Vietnam veterans,” Comeiro said.
He would like to make it a reality soon.
“I’m shooting for Nov. 11 — Veteran’s Day,” Comeiro said.
The town’s memorials to other wars are located around town, Comeiro said. The World War I Memorial is in front of the Marine Corps League Shutt Detatchment on Mt. Auburn Street, the World War II Monument is in front of Town Hall, and the Korean War Memorial is in East Watertown on Mt. Auburn Street near the Cambridge line. There is also a monument to all wars in Satltonstall Park, next to Town Hall.