Municipal Spotlight 11th Annual Veterans Day Ceremony Slated for Nov. 11

By KEN HAMWEY, 

Bulletin Staff Writer

The 11th annual Veterans Day program is scheduled for Monday, Nov. 11, at 11 a.m. at the Bellingham Public Library. 

                                                                     Jay Gatto

The number 11 dominates the timing of the holiday, which was originally called Armistice Day. A peace treaty ending World War I was signed in 1918, and the agreement occurred on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month.

 

“Although our country has been experiencing challenging times, we must not forget the service and sacrifice of Bellingham veterans, past and present,’’ said Jim Hastings, a Marine veteran who’s been the Chairman of the Memorial and Veterans Day Committee for the last 17 years. “On Nov. 11, we can pause, reflect and honor their service, courage and commitment.’’

The program will begin with the Bellingham Boy Scouts posting the colors followed by Robbie Oliver singing the National Anthem. The Pledge of Allegiance will be recited before an opening prayer by Baron Rodrigues, Pastor of the First Baptist Church of Bellingham. 

Three speakers will be featured — Kevin Calnan (Army), Jay Gatto (Marine Corps) and keynote speaker Lieutenant Colonel Philipp Edouard Daniel Rigaut (Marine Corps).

The 68-year-old Calnan served in the Army from 1974-1976 after graduating from Matignon High School. He completed basic training at Fort Dix, N.J., and later attended Military Police Academy in Fort Gordon in Augusta, Ga. After his time at the academy, he attended Sentry dog-handling school at Lackland Air Force Base (San Antonio, Tex.).  

Assigned to an untrained German Shepherd named Sonny, both were deployed to South Korea after training. Calnan and Sonny served for 15 months in South Korea. Calnan was later assigned to Hunter Army Airfield in Savannah, Ga., where he served as a Garrison MP,  leaving Sonny behind at the air defense site in South Korea. 

Calnan, whose highest rank was Specialist 4, completed the Criminal Justice Bachelor of Arts program at Westfield State College in 1980 and later earned a master’s degree in Criminal Justice from Anna Maria College in 1985. 

Calnan entered the Metropolitan Police Academy in March, 1981, and was employed by the MDC from 1981 through 1992 upon which the MDC, Capital, Registry, and Mass. State Police consolidated, creating a new department of the State Police. Under the consolidation law he was appointed to the rank of Trooper. He served as a Station Commander in Milton, the State House, and Framingham Barracks for a total of 12 years as a Lieutenant.

Calnan joined the Bellingham VFW upon retirement from the State Police, was elected Post Commander in 2003 and is currently serving a second term.

Gatto, who was born in Boston and raised in Dedham, competing in athletics in Dedham schools. He later graduated from Curry College with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and later earned a master’s degree from Western New England University in criminal justice.

A Marine reservist for six years, Gatto entered the Coast Guard Reserve after 9/11 at the age of 40. “At that time, I wanted to help protect our homeland,’’ he said. “I was a law enforcement boarding officer in the Coast Guard and worked to protect Boston Harbor for over 18 months. In 2004 the Coast Guard awarded me with the Reservist of the Year recognition for my law enforcement leadership. I was chosen from 11,000 U.S. reservists.’’

His career started in the law enforcement unit at the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston. After 25 years, he retired from the Federal Reserve then worked for the Massport Police in the Seaport. He retired as a captain in 2022. 

A native of Paris, France, Lieutenant Colonel Rigaut graduated from the United States Naval Academy with a Bachelor of Science degree in History and French and was commissioned in 2005.

Lt Col. Rigaut’s assignments in the Marine operating forces include Rifle Platoon Commander, Weapons Platoon Commander, and the Assistant Operations Officer at 3d Battalion, 6th Marines in Camp Lejeune, N.C.; also Company Executive Officer, Company Commander, and Battalion Executive Officer at 2d Reconnaissance Battalion at Camp Lejeune.

He also served as Assistant Operations Officer, Company Commander, and Battalion Operations Officer at 1st Battalion, 3d Marines in Hawaii. 

His deployment experience includes multiple rotations to Iraq, numerous theater security cooperation exercises, and unit deployment program rotations to Okinawa. 

Lt Col. Rigaut’s other assignment include Operations Research Analyst and Marine Corps Representative at the Center for Naval Analyses in Arlington, Va., where he co-authored 16 peer-reviewed studies; and Brigade Plans, Education, and Evaluation Officer (B5) in Nîmes, France, where he deployed in the Sahel for Operation Barkhane as the Joint Plans officer.

Lt Col. Rigaut is currently assigned as the Inspector Instructor, 1st Battalion, 25th Marines. 

He graduated from the Expeditionary Warfare School, Naval Command and Staff College, and earned his master’s degree in International Relations and Operations Research.

His awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy & Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Navy & Marine Corps Achievement Medal, and Combat Action Ribbon. 

Retired school teacher Lori Fafard and a Grade 6 team of teachers at the Memorial School encouraged students to write essays about veterans, and the three winners will honor veterans by reading their essays at the ceremony.

Also, the Veterans Day Committee will distribute military challenge coins to all veterans in attendance.

The program will continue with Oliver singing “Amazing Grace’’ before remarks by State Representative Mike Soter. The indoor portion of the ceremony will conclude with a prayer by Rick Marcoux, retired chaplain of the Bellingham and Medway Fire Departments. Then, the colors will be carried outdoors to the flagpole where Fr. David Mullen, pastor at St. Brendan Church, will offer a prayer at the wreath presentation.

The program will conclude with a moment of silence for deceased veterans and the playing of “Taps”.