ECSD honors National POW-MIA Recognition Day with ceremony

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Today is National POW-MIA Recognition Day and we hosted our annual ceremony honoring Massachusetts POW-MIAs. It was an honor and a privilege to hear from our speaker state Rep. Steve Xiarhos. Rep. Xiarhos is a Gold Star Father and he spoke of his brave son U.S. Marine Nicholas Cpl. Xiarhos, who was killed in Afghanistan in 2009.

Our Middleton facility is home to the state's only monument bearing the name of each of the Commonwealth's POW-MIAs. The ceremony included the solemn reading of each of their names, followed by the ringing of a bell, as well as a presentation of the Missing Man table to honor their service.

Leading the ceremony was Sheriff Kevin F. Coppinger. The ceremony featured many of the Department’s employees who either served or are continuing to serve in the nation’s armed forces. They include: Sgt. Leonardo Jorge, also a sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps; Officer Steffan Heaphy, a U.S. Army Staff Sergeant; Special Investigator Jerome Jellison, who is also a Sergeant 1st Class in the U.S. Army National Guard; Sgt. Benjamin Skusevich, a specialist in the U.S. Army National Guard; Deputy Sheriff Paul Atkinson, Sergeant in the U.S. Army National Guard; K9 Deputy Sheriff Matthew Ritvo-Cabezas, corporal U.S. Marines; and Sgt. Bret Graham, Staff Sergeant U.S. Marines.

The Essex County Sheriff’s Department Honor Guard was joined by the Lynn English High School Marine Corps Junior Armed Drill Team in the processional. There were musical performances by retired Sheriff’s Department Sergeant Ann Zannini, bugler Lauren Sargent of the Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical High School, and retired Lynn Police Sgt. Edward Shinnick on the bagpipes.

We welcome members of the public to come and view this special monument at our Middleton facility, 20 Manning Avenue, Middleton, Mass.