Barrington's new town manager, Jim Cunha, served as the keynote speaker at the Veterans' Day ceremony outside the town hall on Friday morning, Nov. 11. 

Mr. Cunha, a 30-year veteran of the U.S. Navy, wore his uniform and shared a heartfelt speech with the dozens of people gathered at the veterans memorial. He spoke about the history of Veterans Day, and took time to honor three Rhode Island veterans who gave their life for their country.  

And he took time to acknowledge the veterans who attended the local ceremony — pausing to applaud those who served in World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War and the Gulf War, the War on Terrorism and all other veterans. The crowd shared the applause for the local veterans.

"Veterans, thank you for your service, and to everyone present, thank you for taking the time to insure that our veterans will not be forgotten… keep reminding others of the importance of the military and of our veterans to their way of life," he said.

Longtime Barrington resident and Vietnam veteran Bill Grove opened the event by introducing Mr. Cunha. Mr. Grove shared the town manager's long list of military achievements during his three decades of Navy service.

When Mr. Cunha stood in front of the crowd, he shared the inspirational stories of Pawtucket native, Captain Elwood Joseph Euart; Middletown native Sergeant Michael Paranzino; and Bristol native First Sergeant Andrew McKenna.

On Oct. 26, 1942, U.S. Army Capt. Euart helped rescue a number of soldiers who were trapped on board the USS President Coolidge after the struck mines and began to sink. After saving the men, Capt. Euart himself became trapped as the ship sank to the bottom of the harbor of Espiritu Santo (now called the Republic of Vanuata). 

"Captain Euart remained entombed in the hulk of the President Coolidge for more than 70 years, until notice of the discovery of human remains was passed from Vanuatu to Australia to the US Military in Hawaii," said Capt. Cunha. "The US Army deployed a dive team from Hawaii in 2015 and, after recovery and DNA testing, they were conclusively identified as Captain Euart.

"In recognition of his heroism, Captain Euart was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross (our Nation's second highest award for valor), the Purple Heart, and the Rhode Island Cross.  Elwood Euart was a true son of Rhode Island: an Eagle Scout, a graduate of Rhode Island College, Class of 1939, and a Rhode Island National Guardsman."

Capt. Cunha then recognized Sgt. Paranzino, of the U.S. Army. 

"On Nov. 5th 2010, Sgt. Paranzino, a cavalry scout with the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, was killed by an improvised explosive device while serving near Kandahar, Afghanistan. Michael, a 2006 graduate of Middletown High School, left a wife, Lindsey, and two sons, Max and Logan."

Finally, the speech focused on Bristol native First Sergeant Andrew McKenna, who was killed when a truck-bomb detonated outside the wall of an Afghan army base, killing 15 soldiers and injuring more than 400. Sgt. McKenna had, 34 days earlier, been honored at his hometown's Fourth of July Parade festivities.

"It was a tragic end to a life dedicated to service that only one month earlier had been recognized on a sunny day in his hometown celebrating our nation’s 238th birthday," said Capt. Cunha. 

The Barrington town manager told the people crowded near the town hall that since the Civil War there have been more than 4,700 Rhode Island war casualties.  

"As has often been the case, we are again in a time of crisis, a time that tries men’s souls," he said. "But from 1775 to 1919 — when we first honored them with a national holiday — to 2016, veterans have carried our nation forward. To those veterans who preserved our democracy from fascism, communism and terrorism, to those that maintained peace and freedom during troubled times, feel confident in the future. The American people are not letting your legacy slip away."