The Charlestown Community Center Council will be hosting a rededication ceremony at the Charlestown Community Center Pool on Tuesday, Oct. 12, at 5:30 p.m.
The Charlestown Community Center Pool was dedicated to the memory of Captain Francis E. “Red” Powers, Jr., in honor of his service to this country during the Vietnam War. The rededication is scheduled upon the 40th anniversary of Captain Powers’ death.
Captain Powers was killed in action on Oct. 12, 1970. While serving as Company Commander during a combat assault operation, Captain Powers’ company was engaged by North Vietnamese firing from well-concealed bunkers. Captain Powers immediately raced across a fire swept rice paddy in order to direct his company movements. The Captain led a five man team on a rescue mission to retrieve friendly casualties located just meters from enemy bunkers. Captain Powers extracted numerous wounded ground troops to a safer position. During the rescue operation, Captain Powers was mortally wounded by an enemy rocket propelled grenade. For his selfless actions Captain Powers was awarded the military’s second highest honor, the Distinguished Service Cross for extraordinary heroism.
Captain Powers was the brother of David Powers, Judy Evers, Carol Scalli and Collette Melanson; all of Charlestown, Virginia Powers of Stoneham and the late Richard Powers of Quincy.
The Rededication ceremony is being held in commemoration with recent improvements to the Medford Street Pool facility. Over the past several months the City of Boston has dramatically improved the pool area including the replacement of the pool filtration system, tiling work and painting at a cost exceeding $120K. “I hope that residents of Charlestown will join the Charlestown Community Center Council in celebrating the heroic deeds of Captain Powers”, stated Charlestown Community Center Council President Virginia Mansfield. “It is important that we as a community recognize the true heroes of Charlestown, especially at a time when the past negative influences in our neighborhood are being highlighted in the media.”
The Rededication Ceremony is open to all residents and is being co-sponsored by the Charlestown Community Center Council, the Charlestown American Legion and Charlestown Against Drugs with the support of the Boston Center for Youth and Families, the Boston School Department and Mayor Thomas M. Menino.