Despite the cold, rainy weather, about 200 people attended the 58th Annual Memorial Day Service at Gardens Cemetery (Gethsemane) on Monday, May 25. They heard reflections on wartime experiences and on the importance of honoring those who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces, both living and deceased. Several speakers also paid tribute to Robert “Bobby” Kilduff Jr., a Boston firefighter, West Roxbury resident, and Marine veteran who died May 23 while battling a fire in Dorchester.

Speakers reflected on the long history of the U.S. military. State Senator Mike Rush, a lieutenant commander in the U.S. Navy Reserve, said those serving today are following in the footsteps of those who served before them. “And as we sit here today, we acknowledge that there are soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen, coast guardsmen, and guardians standing watch around the world at this very instant who are ready to do the exact same as the brave women and men we remember and honor today. Let us continue working together to ensure that the war dead have never died in vain by ensuring that … every day is in fact, a Memorial Day.”

Boston Veterans Services Commissioner Rob Santiago expressed a similar view, focusing on the local community. “West Roxbury has always been a community built on neighbors looking after neighbors, families supporting one another, and generations of veterans and service members continuing that tradition of giving back long after uniforms are folded away. Service never truly ends. It continues through volunteerism, through mentorship, through civic engagement, and the simple but powerful act of showing up for one another.”

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu said it has been an honor to speak and “keep the faith with you” every year at this event. “The very first Americans to give their lives for our country did so just a few miles from here and in every generation since, Americans, Bostonians, have made the ultimate sacrifice so that people they loved could keep calling this place home.” Wu added that there was yet another Boston veteran and hero to remember. “This Memorial Day, we say another prayer for Robert “Bobby” Kilduff Jr., a third-generation firefighter who gave his life in the ultimate sacrifice, taking care of our city, putting out the flames of a fire where he, alongside his fellow firefighters, saved our residents. We honor his sacrifice and that of his family.”

A new speaker this year was Michael Cunningham, author and Vietnam veteran from Roslindale who has worked to find and identify the remains of those still listed as missing in action (MIA).

“For me, every day is Memorial Day because the memories of my fallen brothers are with me constantly.” Cunningham spoke of his friend Donald Green from Savin Hill, whose patrol was ambushed on July 29, 1968, near the Laotian border. Green was killed by a 500-pound bomb which exploded nearby. Cunningham dug out Green’s body which was returned and buried at Mount Hope Cemetery. Jerry Oxier also died on that day, but his remains were never found.

“I have returned to Vietnam four times in the ensuing years in an attempt to locate his remains,” he said. “Although we have had negative results, we will return to Vietnam to continue our search. We will never give up.”

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One of the attendees, Retired Captain Steven Ayres, dressed in a U.S. Navy summer white service uniform with short sleeves, unbothered by the weather. Ayres served on active duty from 1969-1975, and then on drilling reserve from 1975 until he retired in 1989. He’s been attending this Memorial Day service for three years, since he moved to Newton, MA. For him, he said, it is personal, having lost two college friends and another sailor under his command during the Vietnam war.

“We've lost an awful lot of people, men and women, in our country's wars,” he said. “Today's the day to remember them. I remember those particularly by name, but there are hundreds of thousands of others.”

Ayres is a recipient of numerous unit and campaign ribbons, among them a Navy commendation, a strike flight air medal, and a national defense service ribbon. He has drawn his own conclusions about the Vietnam war. “Unfortunately, our side lost the war, but we did the best we could. Today is the day to remember those who gave their lives.”

After the event, District 6 City Councilor Ben Weber said, “This year, I think it's more important than ever that we are here to acknowledge the sacrifice of one of our own here in West Roxbury, Bobby Kilduff, a Marine veteran who lost his life in the line of duty.”

State Rep. Bill MacGregor remarked on how the weather did little to affect the meaning of the event. “It kept people away. And still, every seat was filled. This is a testament to the community and how we want to honor those that have given their lives for our freedom.”