WBZ Joins in Honoring WW2 Veteran, Anthony Mucciarone

Above, memorial marker honoring Anthony Mucciarone Jr., Photo by Jan Prentice.

On Wednesday, at 9 am, the Veterans Memorial Walkway on the Franklin Town Common was once again the scene of a memorial service, organized and conducted by Franklin VFW and American Legion with the Franklin Veterans Office, in this case recognizing the 81st anniversary of the day on which Franklin native, Staff Sergeant Anthony J. Mucciarone, Jr., died in France in 1944.
Mucciarone had been in almost continuous combat as part of the D-Day invasion of Normandy on June 6 of that year and at the age of only 20 had risen to a position of leadership in the American Army. These facts and more about Mucciarone were read aloud to an audience of about 20, among them State Rep. Jeff Roy, by VFW commander Ernest Carruthers.

After the reading there was a benediction and then the always haunting sound of Taps.

Buglers able and willing to participate in ceremonies like those repeated dozens of time each year in Franklin, are few and far between. And the event organizers have been delighted to recently welcome the talents of Milford resident, Jen Hozempa, (below) who now shares duties with two Franklin men.

It was her presence that drew WBZ TV meteorologist and feature reporter Jacob Wycoff, who interviewed her prior to the event. Wycoff then used a handheld device and a drone to record the rest of the ceremony and Hozempa’s rendition of Taps. It does not appear that the segment has yet appeared on WBZ.

Below, Hozempa being interviewed by Wycoff before the ceremony