Two Dedham Vets to be Honored at Light the Night Event

Oakdale Square Alliance will continues its tradition of honoring a pair of Veterans who will have the honor of throwing the official light switch for the Oakdale Common tree lighting event.

A recent press release indicated that OSA has selected Major Michelle Jacobs who has served for twenty-six years, including deployment as an ER nurse in Tikrit, Iraq, as well as Dedham’s Veterans Service Officer Bill Aitken who started serving with the Marine Corps in 1987 and supported Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm.

The tree lighting ceremony is part of Oakdale Square Alliance’s fifth annual Light the Night! Holiday Celebration, which will be held on Saturday, Dec. 6 from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. The event, which will be held on the Oakdale Common at the intersection of River Street and Oakdale Avenue, will feature a ceremonial lighting of the holiday tree, caroling, live music, children’s gingerbread decorating activity, baked treats, as well as a special visit from Santa Claus.

OSA Co-Founder and Light the Night event Co-Chair Paul Reynolds notes, “We want to show our support to our all our Veterans whose names are inscribed on Oakdale Veterans’ Monument – living and passed, as well as those in active service, especially during the holidays when it can so hard to be away from family & loved ones. Thanks to the courage and service of these brave men and women that we have the freedom to light our tree each year in a peaceful, secure and democratic nation.”

Board of Selectman Chairman Jim MacDonald will introduce the Vets, and then will lead the crowd in a group countdown to cue the throwing of the switch to light up the newly light-adorned Oakdale Common tree. The official Christmas tree light switch was built and donated to OSA last year by Board of Selectman/Vice Chairman Carmen DelloIacono.

Photo courtesy of the Oakdale Square Alliance.