August 2, 2023
Mayor Michelle Wu, at right, and Bill Scannell, second from left, joined local veterans at a Memorial Day ceremony last May at William G. Walsh Hero Square in Dorchester. Inset: Gunnery Sgt. William Gary Walsh prior to his deployment to the Pacific theater in World War II. Mayor’s Office Photo by John Wilcox
This past Memorial Day, Bill Scannell of Dorchester and a group representing the old Walsh Post #369 on Dunbar Avenue, which no longer exists, joined with Mayor Wu and Robert Santiago, the city’s commissioner of Veterans Services, at Walsh Playground on Washington Street near Lower Mills to honor the park’s namesake, Gunnery Sgt. William Gary Walsh, a Roxbury native who at age 22 gave his life in service to his country on Feb. 27, 1945, during the battle to take the Pacific island of Iwo Jima in the closing months of World War II. He posthumously received the Medal of Honor for his heroism in action.
Mr. Scannell and his mates are planning to rededicate Sgt. Walsh’s Hero Square at Gallivan Boulevard and Washington Street sometime this fall and are hoping to connect with any members of William G. Walsh’s family to let them know about the ceremony when the date is settled.
He can be reached with any questions at 617-633-9226.
