A Whitman man was killed in a tragic accident at the P.A. Landers company on Hedges Pond Road in Plymouth Tuesday around 11 a.m.

The family of Charles Pace, 65, of Whitman is in mourning over the loss of their father describing their emotions as “raw” during an interview with the Express.

Pace was driving a front-end loader, which was still in operation when a sand pile collapsed. He was recovered after several hours involving the Plymouth County Technical Rescue Team and pronounced dead at the scene, according to Plymouth Fire Battalion Chief Dean Deltorto.

“The accident is under investigation by Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), a federal team,” according to Deputy Chief Michael Young of Plymouth Fire on Wednesday morning.

Young expressed gratitude and thanks for the Plymouth County Tech Rescue workers and all involved in such difficult circumstances.

The Paces were married for 45 years and he was a lifelong resident of Whitman. His adult daughter, Jennifer, one of three children, said that their father was a great man. He worked for more than a decade at P.A. Landers.

He was experienced in heavy equipment operation and loved his work, said his wife Milly.

They have eight grandchildren and one great grandchild.

“I don’t know what to say. He loved his work and his family. He could fix just about anything, “said wife Milly.

His daughter said he was a longtime member of the Shriners.

Jennifer’s husband and brother also work for the P.A. Landers Company. They have been receiving many phone calls of support from fellow workers and friends. She said her dad was well liked by all who knew him.

Operation Swift Response, a two-day drill held in Plainville and Topsfield last week allowed first responders to test their strengths statewide.

Several agencies and technical rescue teams from the South Shore took part in the joint response under one command post in the simulation of an EF3 tornado. The practice drill required the deployment of rescue teams to multiple sites for recovery, rescue and support.

More than a dozen local fire chiefs also participated in area command posts as part of the disaster drill.

“It was a great training exercise, working alongside the technical teams from each county and utilizing statewide  assets — everything from  technical rescues to learning the logistics of area  command,” said Whitman Fire Chief  Timothy Grenno.

Hanson Fire Lt. Robert O’Brien Jr., was deputy director of operations for Plymouth County Technical Rescue Team. They quickly learned that moving personnel was their first priority and on day one of the drill relocated 150 people by aircraft from the Mansfield Airport.

“We had a limitation in what we could move for equipment. We had to come up with a better system in what we moved first,” O’Brien said. “We were able to move six people using the medevac helicopter. In the utility helicopters we were able to move 11-12 person teams.”

With 14 squads participating, the helicopter was repurposed to bring in other resources forcing the “players in the drill” to rethink their strategy and reconfigure their resources.

Mannequins and live victims, portrayed by military personnel, were used during rescue missions and as part of the hands-on medical phase.

Victims who were “injured” but described as walking wounded were airlifted out and the remaining “victims” had symptom cards describing their injuries for rescuers. 

“We now have a better system in place to move equipment and as far as moving personnel it was flawless,” said O’Brien.

Such lessons were the object of the exercise, which tested the overall effectiveness of emergency operations in case of a major disaster.

More than 100 first responders including many local firefighters attended the physically challenging exercise. The teams were moved by National Guard Black Hawk helicopters to the drill site.

In press releases prior to the event, Capt. Rob Reardon of Duxbury Fire, PIO assistant coordinator for the drill, said several local and statewide participants were involved: Fire Chiefs of Massachusetts, Technical Rescue Committee, COMTRIST, National Guard, Department of Fire Services, Mass Emergency Management Agency, Barnstable, Bristol, Essex, Norfolk, and Plymouth and District 14 Technical Rescue Teams.

The drill was intended as a test in times of disaster and will predict future areas of improvement for all responders.

“It went very well. It took a lot of planning — 24 separate meetings. We had a few small hiccups as part of the learning process but for the most part — it went very well,” said Chief Kevin Nord of the Duxbury Fire Department.   

There were several goals in running the two simultaneous drill sites including the main component of communication between rescue teams and assembling resources to manage an area that was “deemed inaccessible,” he said.

Participants assembled in teams with approximately 90 skilled technical rescue technicians as part of the incident.

Two National Guard helicopters were used; one flying from the north and one from the south to access the drill sites.

The Plainville Fire department doesn’t have its own technical team but they do have members who train on other tech squads. Nord expressed great thanks for Chief Justin Alexander as a gracious host to one of the sites as well as the entire Plainville Fire Department.

Along with the more than 100 participants in the drill there were abundant efforts in coordination, said Nord.

The logistics and planning between sites, central command and communication for a wide area were well coordinated during the two twelve hour days funded by FCAM Technical Rescue Committee, Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency and the Massachusetts National Guard.  Training funding was used for participating agencies, according to the press release.

Teams had great exposure and familiarization working with the National Guard soldiers who were embedded in the event, said Nord.

He also thanked everyone who came together for the drill.     

Gen. Rice was very gracious to allow us the use of the National Guard’s Black Hawks, Nord said. The coordination and positive response of participants was “exceptional,” said Nord.

Gov. Charlie Baker and EOPPS Secretary Dan Bennett attended along with his undersecretary.

The governor was pleased by the show of support of the Commonwealth, said Nord.

WHITMAN — Scores of motorcycles growled away from the Whitman VFW Sunday in the second annual Sgt. Daniel Vasselian Motorcycle Memorial Run.

Chrissie Williamson and Trisha Griffith, both graduates of Whitman-Hanson were just two of more than 500 people who attended the second annual event June 7. The event was organized by the American Infidels Motorycle Club, a nonprofit group dedicated to the “promotion of the ‘American Way’” and passionate in its support of military members and veterans.

Vasselian, a native of Abington, was killed in Afghanistan in December 2013.

It was evident Sunday that small town heroes are not forgotten and that town lines did not separate, but instead gathered strangers and friends to honor the life of a young man who sacrificed his life for his country.

His widow Erin Vasselian and her mom Trisha Doyle were both among the hands in the crowd greeting and thanking guests for attending. Many groups connected as riders although others attended in support of food, raffles and vendors that drew in the large crowd. All were gathered in support of the Vasselian Foundation.

The Doyle’s own Cow Bells Café in Whitman center where her father David is owner and chef. He keeps a photo of his late son in-law on the café wall. There is even a special hamburger named in his honor.

“We have seen an outpouring from both our hometown of Abington where Daniel grew up and have been embraced by Whitman,” said Doyle.

“Erin is keeping busy. It is day-to-day. Sometimes it (losing Danny) doesn’t seem real,” he said. “But, she keeps busy and having the veterans group is helping her in support and getting through.

“Last year over 80 percent of riders who attended (in the rain) didn’t know Danny or the family and they came for him anyway. It is overwhelming.”

“The Sgt. Daniel Vasselian Memorial Fund was created in memory of the United States Marine, who was known to most as “Danny” or “Sgt V.”  He was killed in action in Afghanistan on Dec. 23, 2013 while serving his third tour of duty protecting our country.  Sgt Vasselian was posthumously awarded both Purple Heart Medal and Bronze Star Medal with valor.

The foundation will honor his sacrifice by assisting veterans, active duty service members, and military families of Massachusetts who are experiencing financial hardship as a result of unavoidable circumstances.  The foundation also awards annual scholarships to graduating Seniors of Abington High School, according to the website mission statement.

A road race on Veteran’s Day in November will be held in his honor with money going toward the foundation. For upcoming events visit dannyvfund.org.

Day of tears and pride

WHITMAN — Whitman firefighters held their annual Firefighters Memorial ceremonies on Sunday June 7 to honor those who served and have passed on. This year, sadly there was another name to add to the department’s memorial walkway — the late Glenn Coughlin.

Joyce Coughlin, her daughters, extended family and friends attended the event honoring her husband’s years of service in the Whitman Fire Department. They unveiled the brick engraved in his memory at the front of Fire Station on Temple Street.

The family was presented a certificate and an encased flag, which had flown over the Capitol building in Washington at the request of U.S. Rep. Stephen Lynch, D-Mass.

“My dad passed away January 26, 2014,” said Dalyce Coughlin, the second youngest daughter of the retired firefighter. She was present Sunday with her three sisters Debbie, Donna, and Lisa. “He was a firefighter for 32 years. The support we received from the Fire Deptartment at his time of passing was so overwhelming.”

Joyce and Glenn were heading to Florida with their truck and camper, when he suffered a heart attack at a Virginia campground.

“The fire services and police of Virginia were right there for my Mom,” Dalyce said. “It was just unbelievable the amount of people that were there for her at her time of need, when us girls couldn’t be. It meant so much to us. We are such a close family.”

Dalyce described her dad as an amazing husband, father, grandfather and firefighter.

“The presentation of the flag and certificate from Congressman Lynch was just outstanding,” she said.

“It was a beautiful day for a tribute to our father. We appreciated it so much. Everyone who turned out for the dedication,” said Donna Coughlin-Saccone, Glenn’s second-oldest daughter.

Bob Schmitt, 87, also in attendance spoke briefly at the memorial. He was a call firefighter for 47 years, was a colleague of Coughlin and a longtime friend.

During the wreath-laying ceremony, Schmitt announced that the plot of land at the firefighters’ memorial site in Colebrook Cemetery will now be turned over to the Whitman Fire Department.

Schmitt, who has been married 66 years this fall, is a lifelong Whitman resident. He was the organizer and founder of the Whitman Community Emergency Response Team (CERT). They began in 2003 with approximately 100 people participating and 20 committed to serve the town. He also commanded the Whitman Emergency Management for the last 16 years before his retirement.

Schmitt also announced a windfall for the surviving members who had contributed to a now-defunct insurance plan.

“Way back in 1895, our town formed an insurance plan through the state for volunteer firefighters. We each donated 10 cents a month towards the plan -there were about 40 volunteers at the time,” said Schmitt.

One hundred and twenty years after the account’s inception, Schmitt made the request to cancel and dissolve the fund. The benefits will be distributed to its last nine surviving  members.

“I am one of the oldest involved in the program,” he said. “It provided a death benefit or if there was a need, due to illness.”

Firefighter’s memorial Sunday was also a part of the organization’s

Inauguration in 1960, which is why so many names are read during the bell toll, he said.

“There is a lot of tradition,” Schmitt said. “There is great camaraderie and they take care of themselves and each other. … You look out for the person before you and behind you because that is who takes care of you.  Firefighters are trained to back up someone else at all times.”

Schmitt had the opportunity to be a full-time firefighter in Whitman but also had another career as a vice president of the American Sandpaper company in Rockland. He remained a career volunteer until he retired.

Among the many town officials and honorable guests who attended Sunday’s services was Chief Timothy Grenno, who formally announced the installation of the Rev. Josh Gray as the new official chaplain of the Whitman Fire Department. Gray is also the minister at the First Congregational Church in Whitman.

“We are looking forward to having him as a familiar face. He will be greatly involved,” said Grenno.

“I would like to thank the men and women of the Whitman fire services for all they do in the community,” Gray said. “I have lots to learn about what you all do. I am looking forward to it.”

The service concluded with a march back to the station after the prayer at Colebrook Cemetery.

Whitman Fire/Rescue posted a special thank you on their social media to Whitman Police, Whitman American Legion, Knights of Columbus, State Rep. Geoff Diehl, R-Whitman; Selectman Dan Salvucci, Town Administrator Frank Lynam and a special thank you was extended to  Lynch for his special presentation to the Coughlin family.

The recent graduates of 2015, recognized for their achievements during the May 29 commencement, were very talented art students, their teacher, Christine Maher said this week — and in upcoming sophomore and junior classes that tradition of talent will continue.

Art students at WHRHS will be honored with prestigious opportunities in the weeks to come as the school year comes to a close.

Mikaela Bukow and Brittany Lynch, both currently juniors, were chosen to work with an elite group of art students — Art Stars at the South Shore Art Center 119 Ripley Road, Cohasset will be part of the 60th annual art festival June 19-21. The exhibit called Earth, Wind and Fire, juried by Carl Belz, will be unveiled at the event. Both girls worked on the exhibit, with murals that are sixteen feet long. Visit ssac.org  for further information and program times as there are events for the entire family.

Bukow was also a first place winner at a Statehouse art exhibit sponsored by state Rep. Josh Cutler, D-Duxbury. She finds inspiration in the colors of dusk, landscapes and observing things out the window. She especially enjoys painting with acrylics.

“I will take a photo and then paint it later,” she said about when she sees something inspiring.

Lynch placed second under painting submissions and tied for third were Alyssa Johnson of Whitman and Hailey Hennessey of Hanson all in the same medium. Several other students from W-H placed in various other media. The contest, which is held in the fall, was open to Sixth District Student Artists at the high school level.

More than a dozen art students also took part in the Memory Project, a heartwarming portrait program supporting the world’s orphan children again this year.

They worked for several weeks to complete portraits using a photo assigned to them by Memory Project organizers. They completed the portraits, which were then taken to India and given as gifts to the children. For some students such, as junior Ian Davis, working with pastels presented a challenge, but found it rewarding to make something for someone less fortunate. This compelled him to try something new.

W-H chose India from the nonprofit program list of several countries with which Memory Project is currently working. Last year they worked on portraits for Mexican orphans.

“The orphans in these centers don’t have baby photos and this is something we were able to give them to keep,” said Maher who has taught at W-H for nearly two decades.

The idea of giving from the heart and creating an image of the child who may never have a photograph of themselves or a story of who they were at a young age is such an inspirational project, she said.

The Memory Project organization also followed up by creating a video so student artists were able to see the orphans receiving their portraits.  Several of the older children in India who spoke on tape said, “Thank you for making me this portrait,” as their faces lit up.

The younger children were seen dancing and twirling with excitement as they realized the portrait was of them.

A $15 participation fee was required to defray costs for volunteers and to create an art therapy program in the orphanage.

The Memory Project was developed by Ben Schumacher as a graduate student of social work at the University of Wisconsin.
In 2003, while volunteering at an orphanage in Guatemala, Ben learned that the kids had few special belongings to represent moments of their childhood. They had very few photos, for example, to serve as memories from their early years. Since Ben had always enjoyed making portraits in school art classes, he had the idea to get art students involved in creating portraits for the kids.

“To date the project has created nearly 50,000 portraits for kids in 34 countries, and we intend to keep going as long as possible,” according to the official website memoryproject.org

Davis and fellow junior Eric Lander will spend the weekend June 12-13 with other students handpicked for the prestigious Art All State. Fewer than 100 Massachusetts students were chosen to participate in the program, which will be held at UMass, Dartmouth.

The entry process included an interview, a review of their art resume, a written essay and questionnaire.

After the interview process the students are then notified on their acceptance in the program.

“They will have a wonderful opportunity to work with   small groups and professional artists,” Maher said. “They may be given cardboard and paint for example, and the entire room becomes a formed room of art.”

During the culmination of the program family members are invited to view the installation projects created by the students.

One past exhibit included thousands of colorful strings and wires, said Davis who said he had researched some of the years past projects aheaad of his trip. He enjoys working with ceramics and creating with his hands, and is passionate about drawing.

Lander enjoys pen drawing. He creates cartoons and usually finds himself working with acrylics. He is inspired by unique facial features and transforms people he knows into characters.

“It is rare that we would have two students chosen for the same program. This is the second year W-H has had two students chosen. Sometimes schools don’t have anyone chosen,” said Maher.

She allows everyone to participate in contests or juried programs at their own levels and categories, and considers how well they will best succeed. Her classes, from beginning to advanced, have numerous opportunities and yearly programs outside the school. Their strengths and potential as well as their personalities — sometimes the interview process or speaking at the conference can bring them out of their shell and grow in self-esteem, she said.

Last month students Elizabeth Ingram, Leah Ricciarelli and Caroline Woodward who all worked on portraits for the Memory Project were also chosen to attend and speak at Stone Hill College in Easton at a day-long convention.

“We sat on a panel; we gave an explanation of our orphan portraits and also answered questions,” said Ingram who is a sophomore. “It was a new experience being able to present our project.” She was recently awarded eight places in showing her works in the Art in Bloom at W-H, a reception celebrating the arts.

Ricciarelli who said she has been drawing forever recently drew a Kurt Cobain scene of the singer on stage. Although before her time, she enjoys Nirvana music and knows the story behind Cobain’s troubled life.

Woodward has always enjoyed art since a young age. She calls her art therapeutic. She uses pastel and charcoal. She understands and uses gesture drawings, which is a concept of movement. Maher called the technique challenging but said Caroline meets the challenge well.

A Civil War re-enactment group fires a salute in Hanson.
Photo by Stephanie Spyropoulos.

HANSON — Lining the streets with patriotic colors, adults and children alike waved and snapped photos as their family members, friends and neighbors marched by in the Hanson Memorial Day Parade Monday. Undoubtedly, many were enjoying the sunshine and warm weather at last, following our long, dreary winter.

Local veterans, church groups and town officials welcomed and reminded guests what the true meaning of the day and the cost of such freedom.

Veteran Drew Kitchen of Hanson was an infantry officer who grew up in Holden and graduated from Wachusett Regional High School in 2003.  He spoke at the Colebrook Cemetery about the significance of Memorial Day. A combat veteran on the front lines he served for 10 years in the United States Army, recently completing his service. He served in Iraq and Africa totaling 24 months of active tours, which included battle.

“I will never forget the many soldiers who fought alongside me and those who made the ultimate sacrifice,” he said.

He thanked his family for their support and strength while he was away as well as Hanson Veteran’s Agent Bob Arsenault for providing him confidence and courage to speak on a day, which is so difficult in the memories of his fallen comrades.

“I still remember the excitement and fear I felt giving my wife and daughter a kiss for one last time before boarding the plane to Iraq the first time,” Kitchen recalled. “As I looked at them I remember thinking ‘God please let me come home,’ and as I looked at my fellow soldiers I thought ‘God please let me bring them home.’”

Over his combined decade of service he returned home with 15 fewer soldiers.

He reminded those who live in freedom to not only honor them on Memorial day but to live in gratitude every day.

He ended his speech with an Army motto “No mission too difficult no sacrifice too great duty first.”

“God Bless America” was sung by all in attendance at the cemetery and later a medley of song was played by the middle school marching bands of Whitman and Hanson.

Ceremonies at Town Hall included a wreath-laying at the Civil War memorial along with a firing squad salute and the reading of “The Gettysburg Address” by Selectmen Chairman Bruce Young.

See more photos here.