Marie J. Parente - Elia Fontecchio tribute

Milford honors its heroes
Elia with son

Gunnery Sergeant Elia P. Fontecchio with Elia, Jr.

A tribute to Elia P. Fontecchio and local veterans

On Tuesday, November 30, 2004 the Town of Milford came together at the Upper Town Hall to participate in a ceremony unveiling memorial highway signs for Marine Gunnery Sergeant Elia P. Fontecchio and Milford Area Veterans. The event, organized by Rep. Marie J. Parente, gathered local, state and federal officials, local veterans, friends and family of Sgt. Fontecchio. The Master of Ceremonies was Craig Hill, a former Marine who serves as Director of Facilities at Curis, Inc. and also announces the Milford High School Football games.

Guests included Gov. Mitt Romney, Congressman Richard Neal, Secretary of Transportation Daniel Grabauskas, Massachusetts National Guard Adjutant General George Keefe, Senator Richard Moore, and Chairman of the Milford Board of Selectman John Seaver. Special thanks is due to officers and members of the Milford V.F.W. Post 1544, Lawrence Hughes commanding, and officers and members of the Italian-American Veterans, Disabled American Veterans, American Legion and Auxillary, Armenian-American Veterans, and Medway V.F.W. Post 1526. The Milford High School Orchestra and Chorale, led by William Moffett and Joshua Nannestad, sang the Marine Corps Hymn, National Anthem, and played the traditional folk song "Shenandoah".

Among the many family and friends who attended were Sgt. Fontecchio's widow, Kinney, parents Dennis and Cindy, sister Jane, uncle Dana, cousin Greg and Michelle Allegrezza, and numerous other relatives and friends. Gold Star Mother Mrs. Antoinette Cormier (Milford Daily News Woman of the Year), whose son Eugene was killed in Vietnam, presented flowers to Sgt. Fontecchio's widow and mother. She was accompanied by her daughter-in-law Carol. Friends and relatives came from as close as New Hampshire and as far away as California and Florida.

Members of the 25th Marine Corps Regiment from Worcester and the Milford Police Department presented the Colors of the United States, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and U.S. Marine Corps. Milford Firefighter Pat Salmon performed "Amazing Grace" on the bagpipes. Following the event, sandwiches and drinks were provided by Oliva's Market and Catering, courtesy of Kevin Meehan, owner of Imperial Chevrolet.

Rep. Parente said the event could not have been made possible without the assistance of many individuals and businesses not already mentioned, including: Milford Police Chief Thomas O'Loughlin, Deputy Police Chief Ronald Marino, Detective Dustin Testa, Officer Edward Pomponio, Officer Richard Belanger, Officer Brian Cahill, Officer Paul Parisi, The Milford Board of Selectmen, Town Administrator Louis Celozzi and the Town Hall maintenance staff, Milford Veterans Agent John Pilla, Milford Fire Department Chief John Touhey, Milford High School Principal John Brucato and Music Director Nadine Pomeroy, Kevin Meehan, Wildside Florist, the Milford Radisson Hotel, Cascio Limousine, Massachusetts Highway Department Commissioner John Cogliano and his staff, District 3 Highway Engineer Thomas Waruzila, Army Captain Pat Shea and Marine Corporal Steve Mazzuchelli, and O'Toole's North Pond House.

Selected photos from the event. Click on an image below to view a larger version.