NORTHFIELD – A crowd gathered at the corner of Meadow and Main Streets on Tuesday morning for the unveiling of a memorial street sign dedicated to Spc. 4 Frederick G. Parker Jr., a Northfield resident who gave his life serving with U.S. Army oversees.
“I’m proud to see the crowd we have here today,” said Larry Parker, Frederick’s brother and a retired Air Force Reserve member.
The ceremony Oct. 8 was the second in a series from the Northfield Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9874.
Mark Given, adjutant of the local VFW Post, has been leading the project to honor Northfield residents who were killed in action while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. Given collaborated with fellow Post 9874 member Larry Parker to organize the memorial effort.
Larry Parker spoke at the memorial ceremony, recalling the joyful life he led growing up in Northfield and the moment when the Parker family learned of Frederick’s death.
According to his brother, Spc. 4 Frederick G. Parker Jr. of the U.S. Army was killed in action on Christmas Eve in 1968 when he was 20 years old. Larry Parker said that while in Vietnam, his brother would send money back home to buy his brothers sleds for Christmas presents.
“It was just like any other Christmas… The boys got their sleds and they were so happy, only to learn the next day that Freddy was killed in action in some far off place called Vietnam,” Larry Parker said. “As an American hero, Freddy gave the ultimate sacrifice on behalf of our great nation.”
He was the last Northfield resident to be killed while serving in Vietnam and is buried next to his father, World War II Marine Corporal Frederick G. Parker Sr. Larry and Frederick Jr. were just two of nine sons raised by their father and mother, Shirley Parker.
Shirley Parker, 89, attended Tuesday’s ceremony with her children and their wives who live locally including: Gary, Mark, Craig, Terry and his wife Mary Parker. Bruce, John and Dennis could not attend as they live out of state.
Growing up, Larry Parker said he and his brother used to hang out with their friends across the street from the corner of Meadow and Main streets, where a Gulf gas-station used to be.
“I always wondered what he would be like if he were alive today,” Larry Parker said, noting that Frederick’s knowledge of the weather and love for the Red Sox would likely have led to a career as a weathermen or professional athlete.
Following in his family’s long line of military service, Larry Parker was drafted into the U.S. Air Force in 1969 and retired in December 2009. After 40 years of service, Larry joked that he had spent more time in the air than on the ground, flying in McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II’s. Larry Parker served two six-month tours in Vietnam himself in 1972 and 1973.
Northfield residents can keep an eye out for more posts in the coming year. Given said the VFW Post 9874 is working on a handful of memorials for native military members dating back as far as World War II. Each sign will feature the name of the honored individual, their rank, branch of service, date of passing and war(s) they served.
Throughout the winter, the local VFW will verify information of other fallen soldiers and schedule dedication ceremonies for next year. While verifying information for certain Northfield military members — like their siblings — was simple, Given said others may not have living relatives to contact, making it harder to confirm aspects of their lives.
This project has been privately funded, but anyone interested in making a donation to keep the project moving forward can reach out to Northfield VFW Post 9874.
Zack DeLuca can be reached at zdeluca@recorder.com or 413-772-0261, ext. 264