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Colonel James M. Linder to speak at Long Meddowe Days

Colonel James M. Linder
As is the tradition, a Memorial Service will take place as one of the events of Long Meddowe Days, on May 18 at noon on the Longmeadow Town Green. Delivering the Key Message will be Colonel James M. Linder, the Commander of the 439th Operations Group at Westover Air Reserve Base. He is responsible for aircrew training, standardization and operational command and control of 16 C-5B Galaxy aircraft, an operational support squadron, an operational aero medical evacuation squadron and an airlift control flight.

The colonel began his Air Force career in 1982 after receiving a degree in architecture from North Dakota State University in Fargo. After graduation, he attended Officer Training School at Lackland AFB, Texas, and undergraduate pilot training at Williams AFB, Arizona. He has had 19 assignments in the U.S. Air Force, including All Weather Aerial Delivery Systems, Pope AFB, North Carolina; C-130 aircraft commander, 37th Tactical Airlift Squadron, Rhein-Main AB, West Germany; MC-130 instructor pilot, 8th Special Operations Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla.; evaluator pilot, 815th Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, Keesler AFB, Miss.; Chief Pilot and Director of Operations, 5th Special Operations Squadrons, Duke Field, Fla.; Weapons and Tactics Officer, 700th Airlift Squadron, Dobbins ARB, Ga.; Commander, 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, Keesler AFB, Miss.; Current Operator at Special Operations Command Headquarters, MacDill AFB, Fla.; Safety Officer, 45th Space Wing; and Chief of Standardization and Evaluations, 22nd Air Force, Dobbins ARB, Ga.

As first begun in the year 1870, the Memorial Service will be a "Tribute to Honor Those Who Fought and Died for Our Country," with prayers led by Rev. Curtis Preston of the First Church of Christ and Deacon Donald Higby of Saint Mary's Church. Local honored elected officials present will include State Rep. Mary Rogeness and Select Board Chair Hal Haberman.

The ceremony will begin with the National Anthem and "America the Beautiful" sung by the Williams Middle School Choir, directed by Michael Smith, and the playing of Taps by Longmeadow High School students Evan Patel and Michael Halista.

There will be a Salute for Service, recognizing the service in WWII of the Honorary Chairman, Domenic A. Pellegrino, MSgt. U.S. Army and Air Force, and Survivor of the Bataan Death March.

The ceremony will end with the Memorial Salute by the United States Marine Corps League Color Guard, Donald Gadoua, NCOIC; and the 9th Mass. Light Artillery Color Guard, under the command of Capt. Elliot Levy. Peter Santos will again be the Master of Ceremonies.

The public is invited.