The family of fallen United States Marine Cpl. David Massa were the honored guests at the 2026 Warren Veterans Day remembrance held Wednesday morning, Nov. 11, on the town common.

Massa was among nine Marines from Rhode Island alone killed when their barracks in Beirut, Lebanon was bombed in a terrorist attack. In total, 241 Marines and US Navy sailors were murdered when the bomb struck at 6:23 a.m. on October 23, 1983.

The town unveiled a memorial stone Wednesday, which will be placed near the East Warren Bike Path, honoring Massa's memory. Councilor Louis Rego, a childhood friend of Massa, was noted as the driving force behind the effort.

As has become tradition, Dave McCarthy, commander of American Legion Post #104 and a member of the Warren Association of Vietnam Veterans, served as master of ceremonies.

After the unveiling of the Massa memorial stone, McCarthy admitted to becoming  a bit emotional as it was honoring a fellow Marine.

McCarthy quipped he's usually "neutral" during like events when it comes to the service branches, but in this case took off his usual cap and donned one with "Marines" inscribed as his own personal tribute to Massa.

The ceremony also highlighted the achievements of historic Warren heroes. More well-known is Lt. Col. William Barton and his famous raid that captured a British general and a lesser-known soldier referred to as the “Fighting Fool,” Samuel Cranston, who was present at the first and last shots of the Revolutionary War.