A new initiative to honor the nation’s fallen service members is making its debut in Massachusetts this Memorial Day.
Operation Gold Star, led by the Military Friends Foundation, aims to illuminate bridges and landmarks across the commonwealth in gold, symbolizing love, loss, and legacy.
This permanent tribute, enacted as state law last year, will see prominent structures such as the Zakim, Longfellow Fore River, and Burns bridges lit in gold, raising awareness of the sacrifices made by service members.
Retired Brig. Gen. Tom Sellars, President of the Military Friends Foundation, emphasized the significance of this initiative, stating, “This permanent tribute will raise awareness of the service and sacrifice of those who have given their lives in service to our nation.”
Sarah Sweeney, the executive director of the foundation, added, “As the bridges are illuminated across the state, we hope it sends a message to families who have made the ultimate sacrifice that their sacrifice will never be forgotten.”
One family touched by this initiative is that of Shayne Cabino, who was killed in Iraq.
Jodi Cabino Cipriano, Shayne’s mother, highlighted the importance of the golden lights, explaining, “Seeing the bridge lit in gold is a reminder of their courage.”
Recalling the moment her son decided to enlist in the Marines, she shared her initial disbelief, saying, “I said, ‘Are you crazy?’ and tried to convince him to reconsider.”
Despite her concerns, Shayne’s conviction to serve was unwavering. “He took my face in his hands and said to me, ‘Mama, you taught me to be a man of my word, I gave my word, now I’m gonna keep it,'” she reminisced, her emotions still palpable.
Tragically, three months after arriving in Iraq, Shayne lost his life to a roadside bomb.
Jodi now hopes that the remembrance of fallen heroes on Memorial Day will encourage people to reflect on the true cost of freedom.
“They think, ‘Let’s go to the beach,’ and all those things are right, they’re good, they’re fun, that’s what they stood for, that’s what they died for, for us to have those freedoms and those rights,” she stated.
Across Massachusetts, various tributes were held to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice.
On Boston Common, a poignant display featured tens of thousands of flags representing every armed service member from the state who lost their lives, dating back 250 years to the Revolutionary War.
In Quincy, the annual Memorial Day Parade commenced from Quincy Credit Union, concluding at Wollaston Cemetery, where a solemn ceremony took place.
Quincy Mayor Thomas Koch emphasized the community’s deep connection to its military history, stating, “Quincy over the years and every generation responded to the call big time. Quincy is above the average for people who went in and served, so it’s important we don’t forget their stories, their families, their faces.”
A keynote address by Quincy District Court Judge Jeffrey K. Clifford, who served in the Marine Corps during Operation Desert Storm and later in Fallujah, resonated deeply with attendees as he remembered his fallen friends.
Judge Clifford shared, “Not a day goes by where I don’t think about Jared, Eric, and Christopher, my fallen friends. Remember them, and remember all our brave warriors that sacrificed their lives representing our American ideals.”
The Caldwell family also participated in the memorial, recalling their brother Army National Guardsman Charles Todd Caldwell, who died 21 years ago during a transport mission shortly before returning home.
Jill Caldwell shared her brother’s story, recounting how he volunteered for a mission he wasn’t originally scheduled for, highlighting his selflessness.
Kip Caldwell, Charles’s brother, added that his brother felt proud of the work he was doing in Iraq.
Today, Charles Caldwell’s name is memorialized at Wollaston Cemetery, honoring his bravery and sacrifice.
Throughout the state, parades and wreath-laying ceremonies took place, with Governor Maura Healey addressing the crowd and laying a wreath at the Massachusetts Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Agawam.
At the Gardens at Gethsemane Cemetery in West Roxbury, VFW Post 2902 Commander Richie Gormley hosted the 57th commemoration for Lance Cpl. Paul Reid, whom he referred to as “a local town hero.”
What began as a small gathering for friends and family has now grown into a meaningful event that includes the mayor of Boston and the wider community, fostering remembrance and respect for those who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country.
image source from：https://www.nbcboston.com/news/local/memorial-day-2025-gold-bridges-landmarks-massachusetts/3723388/
