SALEM, MA — On Saturday, Representative Seth Moulton (MA-06) will host a ceremony presenting Thomas Salvi, a 73-year-old Marine from Lynn, with a Purple Heart and several other decorations Salvi earned in Vietnam but never received.
Salvi served with honor from 1965 through 1968 in the U.S. Marine Corps. He was wounded in action on September 22, 1967, but he never received the Purple Heart for his wounds. The Purple Heart and several other decorations were listed on his DD-214, the paperwork that Americans who serve in the military receive upon discharge, but he never received them.
In June, Representative Moulton and his Constituent Services team opened a case for Mr. Salvi and his family and helped them obtain the decorations from the National Personnel Records Center and the U.S. Marine Corps.
In addition to the Purple Heart, Salvi earned but did not receive the following decorations:
- The Combat Action Ribbon for service in Vietnam
- A Presidential Unit Citation awarded to 3rd Marine Division for service in Vietnam March 8, 1965, to Sept 15, 1967
- The National Defense Service Medal
- The Vietnam Service Medal with two bronze campaign stars
Saturday’s pinning ceremony will follow a day of town hall meetings across the region. All four of the events are open to the press.
PURPLE HEART CEREMONY
DATE: SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 16TH, 2019
TIME: 5:30 PM
LOCATION: Lynn City Hall, Mayor’s Office
3 City Hall Square
Lynn, MA 01901
TOWN HALLS
DATE: SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 16TH, 2019
TIME: 9:30 AM
LOCATION: Billerica High School
35 River Street
Billerica, MA 01821
DATE: SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 16TH, 2019
TIME: 1:00 PM
LOCATION: Rowley Town Hall
139 Main Street
Rowley, MA 01969
DATE: SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 16TH, 2019
TIME: 3:00 PM
LOCATION: Wenham Town Hall
138 Main Street
Wenham, MA 01984
For the town halls, the doors at each location will open approximately 20 minutes in advance.
