By J.D. O’Gara

Tables were filled at the annual Franklin Veteran’s Day Luncheon as about 100 veterans and family members joined to for a salute to their service on November 11th, 2021. New Veterans Services Officer Shannon Nisbett emceed the event, honoring veterans and reading a proclamation from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts honoring the 388,000 veterans in the state. Nisbett welcomed speaker Maj. William S. Chen (USA, Ret.) a career U.S. Army officer for over 32 years in the field of missiles and missile defense who retired as a Major General and was the first Chinese-American to wear a 2-star rank in the U.S. Army. Chen, himself the son of a US Army Air Force pilot, later worked as a defense industry executive for almost 18 years in various domestic and international business assignments. 

 Lester Chow and Kim Mu-Chow are shown here with Maj. Chen and Franklin Veterans Services Officer Shannon Nisbett. Chow and 

Mu-Chow’s fathers are among veterans chronicled in Chen’s book, Unsung Heroes.

Major Chen, author of 

Unsung Heroes, a book detailing the sacrifices of Chinese American veterans of World War II, was instrumental in gaining recognition  for this largely forgotten group of 20,000, 40% of whom served the United States as non-citizens, thanks to the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act. On December 18, 2018, however, Chinese American veterans of WWII were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal. Major Chen donated two books to the town of Franklin, one of which is at the Veterans Services office, the other at the Franklin Public Library.

 Maj. Chen explained that Chinese Americans who served in WWII were largely not recognized for their efforts, until, after advocacy, they were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal in 2018. Displayed at the event were two of those medals.

As part of the event, Franklin residents Kim Mu-Chow and Lester Chow, whose fathers were among those Chinese American veterans of WWII, spoke about the pride their loved ones took in serving their countries, and how their service helped their families prosper.

As part of the proceedings. Franklin DPW Director Brutus Cantoreggie, himself a US Army veteran, address the town’s flag policy for the group. The DPW, he noted, oversees 36 flags, working with the Town Administrator and veterans organizations. Although flag policy dictates that when a half-staff order is issued, the flag located at the town offices building should be flown at half-staff, for better visibility, the flag located on the bridge in the center of town as well as the flag located at the Veterans Memorial at Franklin Town Common would also be lowered. Cantoreggi also noted that there are two brand-new parking spots dedicated to veterans at the Franklin Senior Center.

                    Members of the American Legion are shown here with Maj. Chen.

Members of the Franklin High School choir performed the National Anthem, a musical interlude and “God Bless America.” Following the presentations, Nisbett expressed thanks to the Remington Middle School and Oak Street Elementary students, who made Veterans’ Day cards, as well as to the Franklin Elks, Starbucks, Elina’s Market and Hillside Nurseries for their contributions to the day. She noted that the monthly veterans’ coffee social also takes place on the first Wednesday of the month at the Franklin Senior Center, at 10 a.m. Those events usually feature a keynote speaker, are open to all veterans, and refreshments are generously provided by Starbucks.