SWAMPSCOTT — Dozens gathered on a crisp Sunday morning to remember Army Specialist Jared J. Raymond, of Swampscott, who was killed in action while serving in Iraq in September of 2006, at a tearful ceremony marking the dedication of a memorial at the corner of Essex Street and Swampscott Road in Raymond’s honor.
The memorial dedication was organized by Lynn and Swampscott Director of Veterans Services Mike Sweeney, and featured a number of speakers, including Gov. Charlie Baker, himself a resident of Swampscott, fellow soldiers who served with Raymond, as well as lifelong family friends. A number of state and local officials attended the ceremony, including state Rep.-elect Jenny Armini (D-Marblehead), all five members of the town’s Select Board, and representatives from Congressman Seth Moulton and state Sen. Brendan Crighton’s offices.
Raymond’s memorial is a simple block of stone, with a single star occupying most of the real estate, and the words “U.S. Army” and “Jared Raymond” above and below the star. Sweeney said the memorial was the result of an effort by a local contractor and a friend of the family, who enlisted “a group of generous contractors.”
Sweeney described the memorial as “beautiful” and added it was “so worthy of Specialist Raymond’s sacrifice.”
“A soldier only truly dies when their name is no longer spoken. We must say their names. That is why we are here today. To honor and remember Swampcott’s own, Specialist Jared Raymond,” Sweeney said. “This memorial will share Jared’s legacy with generations to come and they too, will continue to say his name.”
Sweeney then ceded the stage to allow for the pledge of allegiance, and a performance of the National Anthem by Singer Brian Landry. Retired U.S. Navy Capt. Dean Pederson then offered an opening prayer, asking for the audience, which flowed out onto Swampscott Road, to obtain the “creativity to forge new tools for peace. So that Jared’s life and death will not have been in vain.”
Baker, who was a member of the town’s Board of Selectmen when Raymond was killed, frequently became emotional in his speech, recalling the ways in which the community responded to Raymond’s death.
“I really wondered about how the town would respond, because I knew that that conflict was controversial and I’m old enough to remember what it was like when some of my neighbors’ older sons … came home from Vietnam and I worried that Swampscott wouldn’t give this young man and his family the return that he deserved,” Baker said. “I walked out the door that morning … and I looked up and down the street from one end to the other as far as I could see, the people turned out. Three, four, five deep, hundreds of yards, flags everywhere. The first thing I thought to myself was ‘we here, and I would argue many nationally, finally figured out how to separate the warrior from the war.’”
“Honestly, for me, I can just say how grateful I was to live in this very special town,” he continued.
At the close of his speech, Baker looked directly at Raymond’s mother, Jackie, and said “Jared, your son, is a hero.”
“I’m honored to be here and to share in this moment, to celebrate him and all those like him, when the call comes they answer it because we are the beneficiaries of their guts and their courage and their commitment to their fellow men and women here in the United States,” he concluded, garnering a round of applause from the audience.
When Baker’s speech concluded, the sounds of Toby Keith’s “American Soldier” began playing over the speakers, a song Sweeney said is a “very special one” to Jackie Raymond, and as the song played, teenagers in the audience walked up to Jackie Raymond one by one, each handing her a rose. At one point, Baker appeared to reach over and grab Jackie Raymond’s hand.
The next speakers to take the stage were Sergeant First Class Sean Massimo, Staff Sergeant Roary McClain, and veteran Charles Sims, all of whom trained with and served alongside Jared Raymond. All three men recalled their time with Raymond fondly, describing him as fun-loving but deeply dedicated to his service.
McClain spoke first and said he and Raymond became fast friends, and eventually, a part of his family.
“The last time I remember spending time with Jared outside of work, we went on a cruise for three days to Cancun … and what a blast it was to sit there and just have a good time to let off all the steam to throw away our rank and just be friends and be brothers,” he said. “These are the memories and the moments that I’ll always remember.”
Massimo recalled never getting the chance to say goodbye to Raymond, who was transferred out of his company just before they deployed.
“At 20 years old I didn’t realize or understand what we were about to get ourselves into and I didn’t know that not saying goodbye to somebody could mean that I’ll never get a chance to. Unfortunately, I never got that chance to say goodbye to Jared,” Massimo said. “All the good times that we had together down on Sixth Street out in the field training, shooting gunnery, having a good time I never got to say goodbye to him. All I want to say is ‘Jared, I love you brother. Rest in peace. We got it from here.’”
Sims spoke briefly, adding that “Jared served his country and honored his home and will be forever remembered in our hearts.”
“Swampscott. Always honor his name, champion his character, and celebrate his love of country,” he said. “Jared Raymond. An American Hero.”
The three men then provided Jackie Raymond with a flag bearing the crest of the company Raymond, Massimo, McClain, and Sims served in, as well as a pair of combat spurs, and a coin from the fourth infantry division memorial. Once Jackie Raymond reached her seat, the three men burst into song, providing a rendition of “The Army Song.”
The final four speakers at the dedication served to recall Jared Raymond’s life prior to joining the army, noting how the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks motivated Raymond’s service.
Mark Dunnigan, himself a veteran of the Navy, attended Swampscott High School with Raymond, and said Raymond deserved to be recognized for more than just his service.
“It is how Jared lived his life while he’s here with us that we must remember,” he said. “This young man confidently made the decision to join the army early in high school, fulfilling an obligation to preserve the freedom he knew he was blessed with here in Swampscott.”
Steve Bohn, Moulton’s veterans’ liaison, said Raymond motivated him to become the man he is today. Bohn, after his remarks, presented a citation to Jackie Raymond, in recognition of her son’s “service and sacrifice.”
The next speaker, Sarah Kinchley, a lifelong family friend, frequently became emotional as she recalled her childhood growing up with Raymond, and as she explained that she and her sister had selected “Jared” as the middle name for their children in Raymond’s honor.
“I specifically remember the last time he was home, we were able to get to a Red Sox game where Jared received a signed Jonathan Papelbon baseball. He gave it to a random kid at the game. Because that’s the kind of selfless human he was,” she said. “The last night I was able to see Jared we reflected on life, God, and the hope of heaven. He reflected on his family and our friendship. It’s with great honor that we call Jared and Mrs. Raymond family.”
Swampscott High School Technology/Engineering Teacher David J. Legere was next to speak, and he too struggled to contain his emotions, as he recalled Raymond’s tenure at SHS and the relationship they built. Before he could begin his remarks, the crowd paused as the thundering sound of a helicopter circling overhead drew closer and closer.
Legere said simply, “that’s for Jared.”
During his teaching career, Legere said, he considered students his “kids.”
“The turning point for Jared and his schoolmates came on a bright sunny Tuesday morning at the beginning of their sophomore year. Today that fateful day is referred to as 9/11 … what you could see in the days and weeks that followed, was … a growing sense of patriotism,” he said. “Sadly, Jared did not complete his tour of duty and did not return home to fulfill his dream of becoming a Boston policeman.”
The final speaker was Swampscott Police Lt. Mike Frayler, who remembered Raymond as someone who had a “profound impact” on his life.
“I make it a point to tell my young son and daughter about my friend Jared often to keep his memory alive. It is rare in one’s lifetime to cross paths with someone like Jared, and I’m extremely fortunate to be able to call him my friend,” Frayler said, fighting back tears. “There isn’t a day that goes by where it doesn’t cross my mind. Jared made the ultimate sacrifice for this country and this memorial is a fitting tribute to his lasting memory for all to see every day.”
The ceremony then closed with a wreath laying, where Jackie Raymond, along with Baker, Massimo, McLain, and Sims, placed a red, white, and blue wreath in front of the memorial, pausing for a moment of silence before the playing of taps.
Pederson then offered a closing prayer.
“This soldier has stood his last watch, he is relieved of his duty. He is going home. Well done Specialist Jared Raymond,” Pederson said. “As you go from this place may the silence of this stone be transformed into that which brings a blaze of love into your heart and may you share that heart and that light with others following in the steps of Jared Raymond.”
Charlie McKenna can be reached at [email protected].