Seven Villages, Janet Joakim

Anyone who has been involved in Memorial Day or Veterans Day events, would recognize Larry (Sid) Chase. He is a constant presence as a support to our local veterans.

During his State of the Town address, Town Manager John Klimm recognized Sid then showed a video with recognitions from fellow Vietnam Vet, Senator John Kerry, and several others including Congressman Bill Delahunt.
John Klimm described Sid’s dedication:

…. A veteran’s veteran. An individual who has dedicated his life in service to our nation’s veterans. He has never forgotten the lessons of war, because he was there in Viet Nam serving his country honorably. And when he came home, he committed his life to making sure we never forgot his brothers and sisters, our brothers and sisters. How noble a calling to serve those who have served our country. And who is it that has helped so many? His name is Sidney L. Chase. We know him both as Sid and Larry. Larry has chosen to make a difference on Cape Cod. All you have to do is ask any one of the thousands of veterans Larry has helped over the years and they will tell you the truth. Larry Chase is truly an unsung hero. He quietly and effectively has made sure that every veteran is treated with the dignity and respect that they have so earned. And he has done it the only way he knows how. One veteran at a time.”

Last year the Cape Cod Times wrote a story about Sid, “revealing” the incredible effort he made to see that every veteran buried in cemetaries in this town were honored with a flag.

Hundreds of veterans, and hundreds of flags, a task he undertook each year quietly and on his own.

We ask our soldiers to travel to far lands to fight in wars that confuse some of us. Their purpose is to preserve and protect our freedoms. When they return, however, we are not caring for them as we should. The numbers of homeless vets, the numbers who are destitute, who have medical conditions that are not being addressed, are shameful.

We are not caring for our vets as we should. We need to do more than honor them with ceremonies and parades. We need to thank them and care for them. We need to help them integrate back into society. Our government needs to find spend the money to address their needs.

Here in Centerville there is one new flag, as we have lost another soldier. Our first sacrificed to the war in Iraq.

Sid has attended to his young bride and their newborn daughter. And, Sid will see to it that a flag will honor him this coming Memorial day.