In Honor of Thomas McCarthy, Abington and Whitman Ma Veterans' Service Officer

Floor Speech

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Mr. LYNCH. Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of Thomas McCarthy, in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the Towns of Abington and Whitman, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and the United States of America.

The son of James and Jane McCarthy of Abington, Tom was born on May 11, 1958. He was raised on Plymouth Street in Abington, and he attended South Shore Vocational Tech High School in Hanover. He attended Southern Washington University, earning a bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice in 1979.

Tom served in the United States Marine Corps for thirty years (1976 to 2006), retiring with the rank of Sergeant Major. Over the course of his service in the United States Marine Corps, Tom attended the Military Police Academy and was assigned to the Military Police for twenty-six years. Upon his retirement, he returned to Abington.

Tom then worked for A-Prime Steel, a specialty steel company from 2007 to 2008 in addition to driving for Dunbar Armor, a private security company. Subsequently, Tom worked at Sears as a sales associate and then as an assistant manager in the automobile service department. In 2012, Tom began his service as the part-time Veterans' Service Officer for the towns of Abington and Whitman. He was promoted to Director of Veterans' Services in 2017. Tom is a life member of the Disabled American Veterans Chapter 119, in Whitman, where he served as Post Commander from 2011 to 2016.

Madam Speaker, Tom is known for his compassion, his kind smile, his quick sense of humor, his storytelling, and his affection for Dunkin' Donuts Iced Coffee. He is an avid freshwater fisherman and has participated in many firearms shooting competitions over the years. He has had the good fortune to be married to Jenny for forty-one years.

His passionate advocacy for veterans set an example to all who worked with him, and I extend my sincere congratulations and appreciation to him upon his retirement. It is my distinct honor to join with Tom McCarthy's family, friends and contemporaries to thank him for his service to the United States and to the veterans of Abington and Whitman, Massachusetts.

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