He grew up in Lawrence and graduated from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy as an ensign. His first assignment would take him aboard a weather ship, the USCG Casco.
Cory Ahonen, chief engagement officer for the state's Executive Office of Veterans Services, served his country in the Air Force from 2008 to 2014 as a staff sergeant.
John Magnarelli served his country in the Army's 82nd Airborne Division and the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment in Vietnam from May 4, 1969, to April 10, 1970, as a sergeant.
"It wasn't 100 percent consistent but I was afforded the opportunity to get to know other people with different religion, beliefs, backgrounds and culture and to be able to embrace that."
Growing up in Boston, he majored in biology at Boston College, where he also lettered in football for the Eagles. He would go on to Tufts Medical School but took a year off graduate school and taught during the busing crisis of the 1970s.
He would go onto serve his country for four years as a combat platoon leader and company commander in the 196th Light Infantry Brigade of the "Americal" Division in Chu Lai.
His first assignment would be commanding a rifle platoon with Echo Company, 5th Marine Division. His first day entailed a truck ride out to Hill 52, where his company commander introduced him to his platoon sergeant.
Robert Mercurio served his country in the Navy as a radioman, first class, from 1942 to 1946. He would also serve four years in the Reserves, being discharged in 1950.
Growing up in upper Manhattan in New York City, he attended and graduated from what was then All Hallows Institute, a private boy's prep school. He did his basic training at Fort Riley, Kan.
He is proud of the people in his family who have served — his father, Paul, was in the Army Air Forces in World War II, his brother Peter was a Marine during the Vietnam era and his son Mike has been serving in the Navy 13 years, as well as numerous other relatives.
He grew up in North Adams and quit high school at 17 years of age in the middle of his senior year and enlisted in the Marines. He did his basic training at Parris Island and remembered the intensity of boot camp.
Sgt. Henebury and other Marines would be on a ship 22 days, stopping briefly in Okinawa to get supplies and ammunition, before making an amphibious assault in Vietnam.
served her country as a "Donut Dollie" during the Vietnam War. I found her to be full of positive energy with an amazing, fun-loving personality. It was easy to see the tremendous impact that she had on our soldiers in Vietnam.