Nancy Bulger leads the way with her family members following to place a flower on the memorial for her brother, Robert Cunningham, who was killed in action on July 10, 1970, in the Vietnam War. Seth Daniel photo
Dorchester’s Robert Cunningham graduated from South Boston High School in 1969. By January 1970, he was headed to Vietnam War. On July 10 of that same year, he was killed in action, one of 79 Dorchester men killed in the conflict. His name is one of those inscribed on the granite memorial block that stands along a well-maintained park on Morrissey Boulevard near the entrance to UMass Boston.
“He went right into the service, through the buddy program and was a US Marine,” said his sister Nancy (Cunningham) Bulger, who gathered with scores of families and veterans this morning for the 39th annual ceremony at the memorial site. “He played hockey and football, but pool was really his game.”
His other siblings Marie Dufour and Tom Cunningham joined Bulger at the event, which is coordinated by Ed Pimental and Lisa Zinck of the Dorchester Vietnam Veterans Memorial committee.
Christine Griffin places a flower for her relative, Thomas Griffin, who is one of the names listed on the Dorchester memorial. Seth Daniel photo
Mike Keany also returned to remember his friends from Meetinghouse Hill who left for Vietnam and never came back. Though not able to serve himself, with emotion, he said he wanted to come back to remember all his friends he lost.
“We lost a lot of guys from Meetinghouse Hill, probably 14 or 15 guys,” he said. “I’m here today for Thomas Casey, Freddie McMahon, John Moran. We all hung out on the corner across from St. Peter’s Church. The monsignor would see us and shake his head. We had great times. That was our corner. Then between 1964 and 1967 we had 14 or 15 guys that were lost, right before the Tet Offensive.”
Z. Andy Warot was in attendance, a veteran who served in the US Army during Vietnam and comes back every year to honor those that didn’t return. His family immigrated to Dorchester from Poland in 1964, and by 1968 he had been drafted for the Vietnam War. With limited English, he was flown across the country and eventually to south Vietnam – where he was supposed to be a gunner, but his technical skills elevated him to team leader.
A contingent of South Vietnamese former military and police officers also attended the ceremony.
Artist Tran Vu, Tuan Tran, Minh Tran, and Hong Vu – all three former soldiers or police officers from south Vietnam. Seth Daniel photo
Tuan Tran, who operated Kimmy’s Pharmacy in Fields Corner for many years before retiring in 2025, said he continues to remember those who fought beside him in Vietnam.
“We come to remember them, and we also come to talk about the First Amendment and free speech,” he said. “We have to stand up and speak out to be free. We can’t be afraid. The communists put me in prison. If you don’t reform to their way, they will kill you or you will never get out. We must fight for the First Amendment always.”
Retired US Marine Richard Dobbyn, who will serve as the chief marshal of the 2026 Dorchester Day Parade, and Francis Cahill read the names of the 79 memorialized on the monument. That was followed by the reading of an original poem, ‘Reflections,’ and then the playing of ‘Taps.’ Both the ‘Star Spangled Banner’ and the South Vietnamese National Anthem were also sung by participants.
A group of Vietnam veterans gathered around the Dorchester Vietnam Veterans memorial following the 39th annual ceremonies on Monday. Seth Daniel photo
Kevin and Millie D’Hooge salute a fallen veteran at the memorial. Kevin said he was also there to remember his brother, John D’Hooge, who survived the war with injuries. Seth Daniel photo
Dennis McCarthy, Chloe McCarthy, Lisa Zinck, Mia McCarthy, Taylor Crescenzi, and Pippa the puppy pose for a photo by the memorial. The late Joe Zinck was a founding member of the Dorchester memorial committee. Seth Daniel photo
