Dear Friends,
This Memorial Day, we pause as a nation to honor the brave men and women who gave their lives in service to our country. For many, it is a solemn day of remembrance; for others, it is deeply personal.
As a Navy veteran who served for 22 years, I carry the memory of shipmates who never returned home. Their sacrifice is a weight I bear—and a responsibility I embrace. Honoring their legacy requires more than reflection; it demands action.
At Jewish Family Service of Metrowest, we strive to live that commitment every day by building a more just and compassionate community. We stand with those who are too often overlooked: immigrant families fleeing violence, older adults aging in isolation, and children searching for safety and opportunity.
Memorial Day is about memory—but it’s also about meaning. It reminds us that freedom is never free, and justice is never guaranteed. Both must be protected, renewed, and expanded—especially for those who live in fear, face discrimination, or are treated as strangers in their own land.
Let our remembrance of the fallen inspire us to rise in their honor and act in their memory.
As we gather this weekend for barbecues, outdoor activities, and the company of loved ones, let us also take a moment to honor the true purpose of this day. Attend a local memorial service. Visit a military cemetery. Pause for a moment of silence. Share the stories of fallen heroes with loved ones. Let us remind ourselves of the bravery, dedication, and sacrifice that sustain our way of life.
These heroes are among those I remember on Memorial Day Weekend:
I remember my good friend Major Rick (Ricardo) Crocker United States Marine Corp Reserve. A Police Officer in Santa Monica CA and recalled to active duty, he was killed in action May 26, 2005 in a coordinated Rocket Propelled Grenade attack by insurgents while conducting combat operations in Haditha, Iraq. A memorial scholarship has been setup in his honor at his Alma Mater, George Washington University (click here to learn more).
I remember U.S. Marine Corporal Mark Goyet, the son of my very close friend and Navy Shipmate, U.S. Navy Captain Ray Goyet, U.S. Navy (retired). Mark was killed in action June 28, 2011 during a mountain patrol and encounter with a large Taliban force. His parents set up a foundation in his memory to provide college scholarships (click here to learn more).
I remember my good friend and local “Bostonian” from Westwood MA, Ernie Greppin. He was a gentle giant with a big heart and 6’ 4 inches, 220 lbs of lighting speed and strength. He was top rower at Annapolis. He was lost on July 15, 1991 on an operational parachuting mishap as a U.S. Navy SEAL.
I remember many more of my Naval Academy classmates killed in action or operations. http://www.usnamemorialhall.org/index.php/Category:1989
I also remember the heroic sacrifice of over 61,000 soldiers who have been killed in action in Ukraine and Israel and so many more lost in unnecessary wars triggered by tyranny and terrorism.
Finally, I remember and support the Gold Star families that must find a way forward in the absence of their beloved, lost service men and women. The Gold Star family designation is a badge of honor to which no family aspires. https://americasgoldstarfamilies.org/
I have been proud of the work the MA Veterans Collaborative has done to support veterans and those who have lost service members. I serve on its Board. Here is a link to learn more https://www.collaborate.vet/.
Thank you for taking time to remember our fallen service members and their families.
Let us continue to stand for dignity, invest in healing, and dream boldly—of housing that restores worth, communities that protect the vulnerable, and a country that sees every immigrant not as a burden, but as a bearer of promise.
To all who served—and to those who serve today in ways large and small to advance justice—I thank you.
Let us walk forward, always forward – together.
I wish you a meaningful and safe Memorial Day weekend.
With gratitude and resolve,
Lino Covarrubias
CEO, JFS of Metrowest
U.S. Navy (Retired)
Follow the links below for local events and resources to honor Memorial Day:
MetroWest Daily News List of Memorial Day Parades and Ceremonies in Massachusetts
https://www.metrowestdailynews.com/story/entertainment/holiday/2025/05/20/where-to-celebrate-memorial-day-in-massachusetts-parades-ceremonies/83720794007/
10 Things to do this Memorial Day Weekend
https://www.meetboston.com/blog/post/memorial-day-weekend/
Memorial Day Activities for Boston Visitors – 2025
https://www.boston-discovery-guide.com/memorial-day.html
Hope for the Warriors – Resources, Events and Ways to Honor Our Fallen Heroes
https://www.hopeforthewarriors.org/memorial-day-2025-resources-events-and-ways-to-honor-our-fallen-heroes/