Reading, MA — Photos from the 2024 Veterans Day Ceremony at Memorial Park by Kenan Cooper. Video of ceremony from RCTV Studios.
Welcoming and Opening Remarks for Service Flagpoles Dedication
Reading Veterans Service Officer, Will Valliere
Invocation
Father Steven Zukus, U.S. Navy Veteran
March on the Colors Command Reading Police Department
Color Guard
Star Spangled Banner Sung by
RMHS Student, Quinn Synnott
Dismiss the Color Guard
OIC Reading PD Color Guard
Introduction of State Representative
Representative Richard Haggerty
Reading of Governors Proclamation
Representative Richard Haggerty
Introduction of Reading Select Board Chair
Carlo Bacci
Introduction of Reading Town Manager
Matthew Kraunelis
Introductions
Reading Veterans Service Officer, Will Valliere
Grand Master of Masons of Massachusetts
M.W. George. F. Hamilton
Master of Good Samaritan Lodge
WOR John J. Galvin Jr.
Remarks
Guest Speaker BG (MA) U.S. Army Ret Dana Sanders-Udo
America the Beautiful
Played by RMHS Band
Dedication of Six Service Flagpoles
RMHS Band to play Armed Forces Service Songs as flags are raised
Special Presentation of Massachusetts Medal of Fidelity to Spouse of
Christina Hannigan U.S. Army, Michael Melchionda
BG (MA) Dana Sanders-Udo/Representative Richard Haggerty
Closing Prayer
Father Steven Zukus, U.S. Navy Veteran
Horn Ensemble
Taps RMHS
Concluding Remarks /MC
Reading Veterans Service Officer, Will Valliere
Brigadier General (Massachusetts), Dana Sanders-Udo was commissioned on 23 February 1995 by the Air National Guard following eleven years of enlisted service. She graduated from the Academy of Military Science, OCS Program, as a Distinguished Graduate. BG (MA) Sanders-Udo’s professional, military training includes Basic Personnel Officer School, the Captain’s Career Course, Combined Arms and Services Staff School, the Human Resources Management Qualification Course, Intermediate Leadership Education, and the United States Army War College (Distance Learning) Class of 2017.
Prior to joining the Army National Guard, she served as a Personnel Officer in a variety of different assignments for the Air National Guard. She transferred to the Army National Guard on 30 June 2001 as an Adjutant General Corps officer. Her assignments include Recruiting and Retention Command, Brigade 5-1 for both the 7g’h Troop Command and the 151* Regional Support Group, Special Projects Officer (Family Programs), Active Guard Reserve Manager, Joint Force Headquarters, Executive Officer, 151 Regional Support Group, Operations Officer, Regional Training Institute, and Deputy Chief of Staff, Personnel, Joint Force Headquarters. She deployed from 11 February 2011 to 14 February 2012 as the S-1 for the 26th Yankee Brigade supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
Her command assignments include Commander, Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, Joint Force Headquarters, Commander, Recruiting and Retention Battalion and Commandant, 1015 Regional Training Institute.
She holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Massachusetts (Dartmouth) in Sociology and Social Work. She earned a Master of Strategic Studies degree from the U.S. Army War College.
Her military decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal (two Oak Leaf Cluster), the Air Force Commendation Medal (one Oak Leaf Cluster), the Army Achievement Medal (one Oak Leaf Cluster), the Air Force Achievement Medal, the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal (w/two Campaign Stars), the Global War on
Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, the Armed Forces Reserve Medal (w/Silver Hourglass and M Device), the NATO medal, the Army National Guard Recruiter Badge and other awards and achievements.
BG (MA) Sanders-Udo retired from the Army on 31 August 2022 as a Colonel. She was advanced to the rank of BG (MA) on 27 October 2023. She’s a mother of twins, Comfort and John, aged 25; she raises her niece, Arianna, and nephew, Logan, aged 19 and 17 respectively.
