FY 2027 Budget Narrative: Recycling & Solid Waste (Enterprise Account)

From the Town Administrator's FY 2027 Budget narrative, each department's story is worth sharing.

General Purpose

To provide the highest level of customer service for curbside pickup of trash, recyclables, and yard waste from 9,686 households for transportation to Millbury WIN Incinerator, the recycling processing center, and composting centers.

Core Functions

● Continue a high level of customer service and fast response times.

● Work to increase the Town's recycling rate while decreasing the amount of trash tonnage that is delivered to the Millbury Waste-To-Energy facility.

● Manage single-stream recycling, solid waste, waste-to-energy, and composting contracts.

● Apply for and obtain DEP grant funding to improve operations, enhance recycling monitoring, and public outreach/education.

 

Staffing

The salary costs for the Director, Managers and Administrative Staff are shared between the DPW General Fund, and the various Enterprise funds. The Solid Waste Enterprise fund pays for 1.55 FTE's.

● Management & Administration: 0.9

● Administrative Support: 0.35

● Solid Waste Laborers: 0.3

Strategic Initiatives & Accomplishments

● Residential compost bins offered free of charge to residents; which were obtained through MassDEP grant funding. This program reduces "trash" tonnage and is environmentally sound.

● Reorganized and enhanced efficiencies amongst the schools through the district-wide composting program.

● Continue to remain below 10% contamination rate through our single-stream recycling program - one of the best rates in Massachusetts.

FY27 Requested Budget Highlights

Solid Waste Expense Increase: $195,000

● Wheelabrator Trash Disposal: This $34,000 increase is consistent with the 5-year average. The actual rate of increase is calculated annually in May, by Wheelabrator actuaries, based on the CPI and as specified in the Franklin-Wheelabrator contract.

● Recycling Disposal/Tipping: Increase of $45,000 reflects 5 year historical averages and current/projected market trends.

● Waste Management Trash Collection: This $53,000 increase reflects the collective total of the per-customer rate increase, as specified in the Franklin-Waste Management 2026-2031 contract.

● Waste Management Recycling Collection: This $63,000 increase reflects the collective total of the per-customer increase, as specified in the Franklin-Waste Management 2026-2031 contract.

FY27 Requested Budget Summary

Enterprise funds are accounted for separately from the General Operating Budget and are designed to be self-supporting through user fees and charges. As such, their revenues and expenditures do not impact the Town’s Operating Budget, as all costs are recovered within the enterprise fund rather than supported by general taxation.

This budget reflects contractual increases regarding the Waste Management trash/recycling collection and hauling contract. It also includes the projection for the annual increase in the Waste Disposal / Wheelabrator contract. Both items are necessary to maintain health, cleanliness, and proper sanitation in regard to solid waste throughout the Town of Franklin.

The PDF of this section - 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1xA-cmR1hmHF1mdvwAGEScsunBgBtlHxA/view?usp=drive_link

For the full FY 2027 budget narrative -  https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/8912/FY27-Budget-Narrative-FINAL-1

The FY 2027 budget information can be found 

https://www.franklinma.gov/Archive.aspx?ADID=577

Reminder: Women’s Health Expo - Wednesday, May 20

Friendly reminder! The Franklin Health Department’s Women’s Health Expo is happening this Wednesday, May 20, from 2–5 PM at New England Chapel (300 E. Central Street).

Stop by for health screenings, educational resources, local vendors, wellness information, and more — all focused on supporting women’s health and well-being. 

The Dana-Farber Cancer Institute mobile mammography van will also be on-site from 7:00 AM–3:15 PM. 

We encourage residents to attend, explore available resources, and take time to prioritize their health and wellness!

C&C ice cream truck at the Hockomock League JV track meet Tuesday, May 19

C&C ice cream truck at the Hockomock League JV track meet Tuesday, May 19

Shared from   https://www.facebook.com/share/p/17vY2Xzk6F/

MLT members meeting now on Zoom - 7:00 p.m. Thursday May 21

Zoom instructions here

View this email in your browser MLT MEETING MOVES TO ZOOM! Thursday, May 21st 7:00 p.m. Join Zoom Meeting https://zoom.us/j/94424267852?pwd=0i7H79OOabampxb1kT0Way8nojhD5F.1   Due to space conflicts at the Sutton High School complex, Metacomet will hold our annual business meeting virtually. If you are a member, please log in and participate. This short meeting will cover required elections, approval of last year's minutes and the financial report. Our Annual Report with details is here. MLT needs a quorum of 20 or more members participating on the video meeting or sending a proxy to our Board President and/or Vice President before the meeting begins. Please send a brief email to Lisa Mosczynski@MetacometLandTrust.org stating your proxy for the meeting. Proxies must be received by noon on Thursday. If you have not previously installed Zoom on your phone or computer, we recommend doing so before the meeting. Our program on watershed protection with Stefanie Covino, of the Blackstone Watershed Collaborative, will be rescheduled for the fall. MLT ANNUAL MEETING ZOOM INSTRUCTIONS Topic: MLT - ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING Time: May 21, 2026 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada) Join Zoom Meeting https://zoom.us/j/94424267852?pwd=0i7H79OOabampxb1kT0Way8nojhD5F.1 Meeting ID: 944 2426 7852 Passcode: 346921 One tap mobile +16469313860,,94424267852#,,,,*346921# US +19292056099,,94424267852#,,,,*346921# US (New York) Join instructions https://zoom.us/meetings/94424267852/invitations?signature=WVC_q1_gCHzrSDZIkH8XuPZuEcNoodpZ_psOIg4RXqs   Would you like to renew your membership online before the meeting? Check your last donation date below and renew by mail or use the PayPal link to pay online. Our records show your donation of $1,000 was received on 02/19/2026.  Please keep your donation receipts. Our Federal Tax-Exempt ID is: 04-3020897.  We Love Where We Live -- And We Know You Do, Too! Copyright © 2026 Metacomet Land Trust, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email as a subscriber to our e-newsletter. Our mailing address is: Metacomet Land Trust P.O. Box 231 Franklin, MA 02038 Telephone: (508) 271-7131

Reminder: 2026 Memorial Day observances for the Town of Franklin

The Town of Franklin invites residents, veterans, families and visitors to come together in remembrance and gratitude during the community’s 2026 Memorial Day observances. A series of events will honor the brave men and women who gave their lives in service to our country.

The Memorial Day Breakfast will take place on Friday, May 22, from 9 to 11 AM, at the Franklin Senior Center and offers an opportunity for the veteran community to gather ahead of Memorial Day. Reservations are required and must be made by Friday, May 8, by calling the Veterans’ Services Office at 508-613-1315.

On Memorial Day, the community is invited to attend a series of commemorative events, beginning with ceremonies at Dean College at 9:30 AM, Union Street Cemetery at 9:50 AM, and St. Mary’s Cemetery at 10:10 AM, prior to the start of the parade.

Memorial Day Parade and Ceremony — May 25, 2026

The Memorial Day Parade is scheduled for Monday, May 25, 2026, at 11 AM, beginning at Horace Mann Middle School and proceeding along Oak Street, Daniel McCahill Street, Union Street, West Central Street, Emmons Street and Main Street, ending at the Franklin Town Common.

View the parade route: Memorial Day 2026 Parade Route

Download a PDF copy - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1L7xl3qkGgSuR-9vLd2wpdOCqsiBUPdRq/view?usp=sharing

The Memorial Day Ceremony will be held at 12 PM at the World War I Memorial on the Town Common immediately following the parade. The ceremony will honor Franklin veterans who have passed since last Memorial Day, as well as the Town’s 45 fallen heroes who died in service to the nation.

In the event of inclement weather, updates and cancellation notices will be posted on the Town’s Veterans’ Services webpage (https://www.franklinma.gov/335/Veterans-Services).

Memorial Day is a time to reflect on the sacrifices made by those who served. The Town of Franklin encourages all to take part in these observances and join in honoring the legacy of our nation’s heroes.

The FPAC Golf Tournament, golf to help an artistic & charitable cause

The FPAC Golf Tournament is coming up fast. We are very excited to make this year’s tourney bigger and better.

Take a day off work for a charitable cause, and test your skills in 18 holes of golf at the New England Country Club! Compete with friends, family, and co-workers for on-course hole contests (50/50 Hole, Closest to the Pin, Longest Drive) and raffle prizes!

The FPAC Golf Tournament, golf to help an artistic & charitable cause

Golf proceeds support FPAC programming and THE BLACK BOX while encouraging the development of emerging artists. FPAC’s fundraising events help bring world-class talent to perform in downtown Franklin, amplifying the cultural fabric of MetroWest Boston.

For additional info and to register - https://fpaconline.com/golf-tournament/

Reminder on Hands Only CPR class during EMS Week Tuesday, May 19

The Franklin Fire and Health Department is celebrating EMS Week by hosting a FREE hands only CPR class. 

The class will take place on May 19th from 2:30 PM to 4:00 PM at the Franklin Fire Station, 40 West Central St.

SIGN UP LINK: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0945ACAF2EAAF9C25-63719434-handsonly

Shared from https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1CSb74wpxZ/

Garden of Hedon concert scheduled for THE BLACK BOX on June 20

Vintage style psychedelic blues rock with just a shot of punk rock attitude! 

The swagger of The Stones meets the sophistication of The Beatles, combined with the power of Led Zeppelin and the eclectic weirdness of early David Bowie and Alice Cooper. 

Matt Zajac: Lead Vocals, Background Vocals, Acoustic Guitar 

William James Donovan: Bass Guitar, Background Vocals

Steven Serra: Electric Guitar

Tim Corrigan: Electric Guitar

Kevin Meaney: Slide Guitar

Johnny Keys: Piano, Organ, Keyboard

Tim Provost: Drums 

Come see what’s growing in the Garden Of Hedon!

Tickets available at THEBLACKBOXonline.com or by calling the box office at 508-528-3370!

#theblackboxfranklin #livemusic #franklinmassachusetts #metrowestma #franklinma

Creative Corner Art Studio offers, after school, Saturdays and Summer programs

Shared from https://www.instagram.com/p/DYQFy_WvB7M/

Franklin Public Radio - wfpr.fm Schedule for Tuesday, May 19, 2026

Yes, Franklin has its own radio station -> wfpr.fm. Franklin Public Radio has a brand new schedule for the locally produced shows that fill our air waves. 

It is available anywhere, anytime at wfpr.fm or in the local Franklin, MA area at 102.9 on the FM dial.

Tune in to listen to the following:

Franklin TV schedule for Tuesday, May 19, 2026 (Your local Public, Education & Government "PEG" station)

Franklin All Access TV - Our Public Access Channel   (Comcast 6, Verizon 26) = TUESDAY

Franklin Pride TV - Our Educational Channel              (Comcast 8, Verizon 28) = TUESDAY

Franklin Town Hall TV - Our Government Channel     (Comcast 9, Verizon 29) = TUESDAY

Get this week's program guide for Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) online  http://franklin.tv/programguide.pdf

What's happening in Franklin, MA: Monday, May 18, 2026 ???

Monday, May 18

For Library events ->  https://www.franklinma.gov/942/Calendar-of-Events

For additional details on Senior Center events ->   

https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/9195/May-2026-Newsletter?bidId=

***    Town Meetings today   ***

Community Preservation Committee Meeting

Monday, May 18 Time: 6:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_05182026-2318

Franklin Public Schools Community Relations Sub Committee Meeting

Monday, May 18 Time: 6:30 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_05182026-2321 

Library Board of Directors Regular Meeting

Monday, May 18 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_05182026-2316 

----------

Find the full Community event calendar  https://bit.ly/FranklinCommunityCalendar

If you have an event to add to the calendar, you can use the form to submit it for publication:  https://bit.ly/Submit2Calendar

The Town meeting calendar is found  https://www.franklinma.gov/Calendar.aspx
The School district calendar is found  https://franklinpublicschooldistrictma.sites.thrillshare.com/o/fpsd/page/school-calendar

FY 2027 Budget Narrative: Debt & Interest

From the Town Administrator's FY 2027 Budget narrative, each department's story is worth sharing.

Type and Purpose of Debt

The Town of Franklin sells General Obligation Bonds to finance capital improvements and other projects that require large amounts of cash such as schools, public works, recreational areas, public safety, and public buildings. General Obligation Bonds are supported by the full faith and credit of the Town and are repaid from property taxes from both current and future property owners or, in the case of water or sewer projects, out of their respective enterprise funds. Over the last few years, typical rates for 20 year municipal bonds have been in the 3% to 4% range. With the current situation, rates may be more variable and possibly higher as less bidders compete in the marketplace.

Debt shall be issued only for capital improvements with a useful life equal to or exceeding the term of the financing. The Town will manage its debt in a manner that maintains a high credit quality, ensures long-term affordability, and limits the impact on taxpayers.

The Town’s most recent borrowing is a one-year Bond Anticipation Note (BAN) issued to fund the replacement of Fire Engine 3, with a total authorization of $935,000.

 

A BAN offers a cost-effective short-term financing option, as issuance costs are significantly lower than those associated with long-term bonds. This approach is particularly advantageous if the Town plans to reduce the principal over time or consolidate this borrowing with other authorized projects into a future bond issuance.

The BAN was authorized by the Town Council on March 4, 2026.

After a ratings review by Standard & Poor’s in May 2025, the Town’s bond rating was affirmed at AAA with a stable outlook.

FY26 Debt Service by Category

1. School Buildings – Franklin High School and Tri-County Regional Vocational H.S

2. Public Buildings – Senior Center, Library, Municipal Building Renovation

3. Technology - improvements to school and town systems

4. Public Safety – Fire Truck, Aerial Ladder Truck

5. Water Debt – Water mains, repairs, storage, lines and the water treatment plant through the Massachusetts Clean Water Trust Loan Program (MCWT)

i. MCWT is a state agency that improves water quality throughout the Commonwealth by providing low-interest loans to municipalities.

6. Sewer Debt – Beaver Street Interceptor, through MCWT.

Debt Service Trend Chart

The Town maintains a policy of limiting annual debt service to no more than 5% of the operating budget. Current debt service represents approximately 4.5%, reflecting adherence to this policy and a prudent approach to long-term financial management. Debt service is projected to decrease from FY27 to FY28, primarily due to the following factors:

● Horace Mann Middle School debt – both excluded and non-excluded debt service will drop off in FY27

● Final payments on major capital projects – debt associated with the Senior Center, Fire Station, and School issuances will reach their final payment in FY28, resulting in significantly lower debt service compared to prior years.

 

For reference, below is a summary of excluded and non-excluded debt retiring between FY23-FY28, including issuance and sunset years:

Continue reading this section to review additional text and charts in the PDF

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1OQNtkj-72ohybKN8bt4QMSajSOflXqvG/view?usp=drive_link

For the full FY 2027 budget narrative -  https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/8912/FY27-Budget-Narrative-FINAL-1

The FY 2027 budget information can be found 

https://www.franklinma.gov/Archive.aspx?ADID=577

FY 2027 Budget Narrative: Employee Benefits

From the Town Administrator's FY 2027 Budget narrative, each department's story is worth sharing.

Retirement

This line item funds pensions for the Contributory (MGL Chapter 32) retirees. There are 104 contributory retirement systems for public employees in Massachusetts. A retirement board governs each system and all boards, although operating independently, are bound together under one retirement law—Chapter 32 of the Massachusetts General Laws—that establishes benefits, contribution requirements, and an accounting and funds structure for all systems. All 104 retirement systems are overseen by the Public Employee Retirement

 

Administration Commission (PERAC), which was created by Chapter 306 of the Acts of 1996. The Town of Franklin is a member of the Norfolk County Retirement System (NCRS). The Norfolk County Retirement System was established in 1911 for the purpose of providing retirement benefits for County employees. At present, the system includes not only County employees and retirees, but also nineteen (19) Norfolk County towns and twenty-three (23) authorities and special districts. The system is governed by a five-member board chaired by the County Treasurer, and the Treasurer is responsible for the management of the System's funds. PERAC (Public Employee Retirement Administration Commission) exercises general supervision of the System. The Town of Franklin receives an annual assessment from Norfolk County which covers all Municipal employees and non-teaching School Department employees working a minimum of 20 hours per week. The appropriation funds both the normal cost (the cost of current employees’ future pensions) as well as the unfunded pension liability.

Fiscal Year 2027 assessment is $8,786,849.

Health/ Life Insurance

This line item covers the cost of health and life insurance for all active Town employees and retirees from the Town. Retirees from the schools are in a different line item within the Benefits budget.

Active School employees have typically been within the School Budget. In the Joint Budget Subcommittee Listening Sessions last spring, many residents had questions and concerns about this. Town and School leadership discussed whether it might make sense to transfer the budget costs of School Health Insurance from the school budget to the Town Budget in future years. It was voted on and the School Health Insurance will now be under the Town Budget. For FY27, the total appropriation amount for account 300 - Franklin Public Schools reflects their total operating budget minus health and medicare costs. To keep School Health Insurance costs isolated within the total Benefits budget, we have created two new line items; School Health Insurance and School Medicare.

The Town has been a member of the Massachusetts Strategic Health Group (MSHG) since FY23. With support from the IAC and Town Council, the Town is joining the Group Insurance Commission (GIC) for FY27. Per the GIC requirements, the Town will be with them for a minimum of 3 fiscal years. At the time of this report, we have not yet entered the Open Enrollment period for FY27, so we do not know exactly what plans employees will choose in FY27. Since we are joining the GIC, it is hard to estimate what employees will elect since they will now have the option to select from 8 different plans under 4 different vendors. The current FY27 budget model reflects our preliminary estimates of a flat 14% increase, the final appropriation is subject to change when open-enrollment begins on April 1st, giving us more accurate data on actual enrollment in health insurance plans. As of March 26, 2026, there are 1,047 benefits eligible employees between the Town and the Schools. This number changes regularly, depending on vacancies and enrollment at the time the data is collected. 536 employees are currently electing health insurance, which is about 51.19% of all employees.

.... 

Other Post Employment Benefits (OPEB)

The Town provides medical, prescription drug, and life insurance to retirees and their covered dependents. These are all considered “post-employment benefits.” All active employees who retire from the town and meet eligibility criteria will receive these benefits. Retirees contribute between 30% and 50% of the cost of the health plan, as determined by the town. The Town contributes the remainder of the costs on a pay-as-you-go basis.

Many years ago, the Town implemented GASB Statement 45, Accounting and Financial Reporting by Employers for Post-Employment Benefits other than Pensions. Statement 45 requires governments to account for other post-employment benefits (OPEB), primarily healthcare, on an accrual basis rather than on a pay-as-you-go basis. The effect is the recognition of an actuarially required contribution as an expense on the financial statements when a retiree earns their post-employment benefits, rather than when they use their post-employment benefits. To the extent that an entity does not fund their actuarially required contribution, a post-employment benefit liability is recognized on the Town’s Statement of Net Assets.

The Town has financial policies which prioritize investing into OPEB each year. Current policies require increasing our contribution by $50,000 each fiscal year. The Town also dedicates 10% of free cash to OPEB each year.

The Town created an OPEB Trust and all funds were moved from the OPEB Stabilization account by a vote of Town Council. The OPEB Trust Committee voted to invest these funds with the State Pension Reserves Investment Trust (“PRIT”). These funds are overseen by the State’s Pension Reserves Investment Management Board (“PRIM”). The Trust currently has

$17,697,329 in net value as of 2/28/2026.

 

Compensation Reserve

These funds are for any wage adjustments during the fiscal year, to cover absences in individual departments where additional coverage is necessary and to cover unexpected retirement costs.

If an employee resigns or retires in the middle of the fiscal year, we are required by law to pay out all their remaining vacation or earned time and many collective bargaining agreements include payments for a portion of unused sick time. If we receive ample notice that a person intends to retire, we build the costs into departmental budgets wherever possible. The compensation reserve fund is used to supplement budgets at the end of the year to avoid budget deficits, especially in smaller departments.

Continue reading the PDF of this section. A couple of smaller text sections were skipped as well as all the tables and charts. 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1LKQX6XeWwv5w_szfCP8brYuU1rH1QQpY/view?usp=drive_link

For the full FY 2027 budget narrative -  https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/8912/FY27-Budget-Narrative-FINAL-1

The FY 2027 budget information can be found 

https://www.franklinma.gov/Archive.aspx?ADID=577

FY 2027 Budget Narrative: Liability Insurance

From the Town Administrator's FY 2027 Budget narrative, each department's story is worth sharing.

General Purpose

The Town purchases the following insurance for the Town of Franklin and the Franklin Public Schools: Automobile, General Liability, Law Enforcement Liability, Property, Public Officials Liability and School Board Liability.

The Liability Insurance includes premiums for our insurance coverage through the Massachusetts Interlocal Insurance Association (MIIA). Our initial data suggests that we will see increases ranging from 4 to 8% on each of the insurance lines.

In addition to premiums through MIIA, the Town also pays a separate carrier for a drone liability policy and a vacant building liability policy. Drones are used by the Police Department, and we anticipate insurance will cost approximately $6,000 in FY27. The vacant building policy is for the Davis Thayer Building. We expect this to cost approximately $42,000 in FY27. This coverage protects the Town from potential liabilities and damages if anything happens within the vacant buildings.

Vacant properties are generally considered riskier to insure compared to occupied ones since insurance providers view them as more susceptible to vandalism, break-ins, and other perils due to their unoccupied status. Davis Thayer School closed in July 2021, so FY26 will be our fifth year of insuring it as a vacant property. Insurance carriers often are not willing to maintain coverage for vacant buildings indefinitely since there is so much risk involved, so we may eventually struggle to get coverage for the building.

The Town has an active “Safety Committee”, which Operations Manager Julie McCann and Human Resources Director Karen Bratt co-chair. Representatives from each Town department serve on the committee. The Safety Committee strategizes best practices and policies to avoid workplace injuries and maintain a safe work environment. This, in turn, helps reduce costly insurance claims which could affect future premium costs.

The Safety Committee also participates in a great incentive program provided by our insurance company, MIIA. The “MIIA Rewards Program” incentivizes the Town to implement various training requirements, best practices and policies to maximize staff proficiency across a broad spectrum of safety related matters. Each rewards eligible task or training that staff completes reduces the Town’s insurance premium by a certain percentage the following year. For the past several years, we have maxed out our rewards and saved between $35,000 to 52,000 per year in insurance premiums. We expect to max out our savings again in Fiscal Year 2026, which will result in a discount of approximately $35,000 against our FY27 premium.

Consistently, Franklin is among the top MIIA rewards earners of participating municipalities and have won numerous awards for our employee training programs.

The PDF of this section - 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1PdcnVTVp-mnN3cOaIqidf0SbA_-Udc1G/view?usp=drive_link

For the full FY 2027 budget narrative -  https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/8912/FY27-Budget-Narrative-FINAL-1

The FY 2027 budget information can be found 

https://www.franklinma.gov/Archive.aspx?ADID=577

Santa Foundation Bingo scheduled for June 17

What do Bingo and Baseball have in common? 

We’re getting excited for our Santa Foundation Bingo Fundraiser on June 17th — where every game brings fun, community, and prizes. Someone will be winning Red Sox tickets! 

Grab your lucky bingo dauber, bring your friends, and join us for a night of laughs, prizes, and giving back.

Who’s feeling lucky? Get your tickets! 

@everyone

https://www.sfjoy.org/products-and-events

Redsox luckywinner

GOOD DEEDS: A Holiday for Remembering

By William P. O’Donnell, Norfolk County Register of Deeds

As the final Monday in May approaches, our nation pauses to observe Memorial Day a solemn occasion to honor and remember the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice while serving in the United States Armed Forces. In 2026, this remembrance carries added meaning as we prepare to mark the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, a milestone that invites us to reflect not only on the freedoms we enjoy today, but on the earliest sacrifices made to secure them.

Memorial Day’s roots trace back to the aftermath of the Civil War, a time of profound national healing. Initially known as Decoration Day, communities across the country began adorning the graves of fallen soldiers with flowers, a simple yet powerful act of remembrance. In 1971, it was officially recognized as a federal holiday, observed on the last Monday of May.

Yet the spirit of Memorial Day reaches even further back to the founding of our republic itself. More than 250 years ago, ordinary men from towns across Norfolk County answered the call to defend liberty. Farmers, tradesmen, and neighbors left their homes to stand against tyranny, many never to return. Their sacrifices laid the foundation for the independence declared in 1776.

There are many meaningful ways we can show our respect on Memorial Day. Visiting a cemetery or local memorial offers a moment to reflect among the silent rows of tribute. Placing flowers or American flags on veterans’ graves is a tangible act of remembrance. Attending a local parade or ceremony allows us to come together in shared gratitude and to consider the profound cost of freedom.

A few years back, on Memorial Day, a veteran of World War II and the Korean War, Natalie Fultz, addressed a large crowd at Milton Cemetery. She was 100 years old, but with age comes wisdom. She asked the audience a simple but very profound question: “How can we best honor and best remember our nation's heroes who have fallen in service?”

Her question came with an answer. “We can and should talk about the heroism and sacrifice, ensuring that the younger generations know of their efforts.” It is estimated that approximately 1.3 million Americans have died in service to their country.

It is precisely this sacrifice that Natalie Fultz urged us not to forget. One of the most powerful ways to honor the fallen is by sharing their stories. By recounting their lives and sacrifices, we ensure their legacies endure and that future generations understand the price paid for independence and for our freedoms as Americans.

Here in Norfolk County, we can look back to the Revolutionary War and remember those from our own communities who gave their lives in the fight for American independence. Patriots from towns such as Dedham, Braintree, Milton, Needham, Walpole, and Stoughton, along with individuals from villages and communities that would later become Norfolk County towns, marched to Lexington and Concord, Bunker Hill, and beyond. Some fell on those very fields in 1775, among the first to give their lives in what would become a long and arduous struggle for freedom.

Among those who made that sacrifice on the very first day of the Revolution were Patriots from Dedham and Needham who answered the call and never returned home.

Elias Haven (1742–1775), a farmer from Dedham (in what is now Dover), answered the alarm on April 19, 1775, as news of the fighting at Lexington spread across the region. He joined fellow militia and marched toward Menotomy (now Arlington), where British troops were retreating. In the fierce fighting near the Jason Russell House and Arlington Meeting House, Haven was killed, becoming one of Norfolk County’s earliest casualties of the Revolution.

Elisha Mills (1735–1775), a blacksmith and farmer from East Needham, was likewise drawn into the conflict that day. Marching with Captain Robert Smith’s militia, he reached Menotomy and took part in the intense battle near Jason Russell’s farm, where he was killed. Mills was one of five Needham men who fell in the engagement, alongside Amos Mills, Nathaniel Chamberlain, Jonathan Parker, and John Bacon.

Norfolk County has patriots who made profound sacrifices at the very outset of the American Revolution. That same dedication endured. Norfolk County in the years that followed America’s independence has stories of patriots and veterans who made sure the government formed and freedoms found in the United States of America continued.

Meda Morse (1890 – 1918) was a Foxborough native and a descendant of one of the town’s founding families. She was a high school graduate and a licensed nurse. Meda became a nurse for the American Red Cross, which became integrated into the national war effort during World War I.

She worked in military hospitals, and her last assignment was at Fort Zachary Taylor in Kentucky in the fall of 1918, during the height of the influenza epidemic, which claimed the lives of 675,000 Americans. Meda's job was to assist in the medical processing of soldiers going to Europe.

While performing her duties, she contracted the flu and fell critically ill. Her family was notified, and her mother reached her bedside just hours before she passed on Christmas Eve. In recognition of her ultimate sacrifice, the grave of Meda Morse is marked with a veteran’s plaque.

Daniel Mahoney Jr. (1920–1944), a Stoughton native from a family known for giving back to the community, might never have had the chance to serve his country during World War II. At age nine, he was accidentally shot by a neighborhood boy, but thanks to the quick actions of a cabdriver—who rushed him to the hospital and donated blood—his life was saved.

Dan graduated from Stoughton High School and became an auto mechanic. In 1942, he was drafted into the U.S. Army Air Forces and trained as an aircraft mechanic. The following year, he was sent to Europe and served as a tail gunner on a B-24 Liberator bomber.

He died from friendly fire when a bomb was accidentally dropped on his plane by an Allied aircraft. His body was recovered five years later on a mountainside in Yugoslavia. Sgt. Mahoney left his parents, four sisters, and his fiancée, Dorothy Sweet, who never married.

Paying tribute to Natalie Fultz’s words there is a booklet publishing the stories of county residents and honoring their service as veterans. To explore the stories of Norfolk County’s veterans across generations, I encourage you to visit the Norfolk County Registry of Deeds’ Notable Land Records Vol. 3: “We Remember Our Veterans,” available here: https://www.norfolkdeeds.org/news-event/notable-land-records-vol-3. If you would like a hard copy of this booklet, please email me at registerodonnell@norfolkdeeds.org.

This Memorial Day, as we unite as a community and as a nation to honor the sacrifices of the brave men and women of the United States Armed Forces, let us also take time to reflect on the unwavering dedication of the earliest patriots who made the ultimate sacrifice in pursuit of American independence at the very founding of our nation some 250 years ago. May we carry forward their legacy of courage, sacrifice, and devotion to freedom, ensuring that their memory lives on here in the communities of Norfolk County and beyond.

Note: Veteran’s Day speaker Natalie Fultz died the following year after her speech at age 101 on September 26, 2020. She was buried in a private ceremony at Milton Cemetery, on the same grounds where she delivered her memorable Memorial Day speech.