VFW 2011-2012 Teacher, Firefighter and Law Enforcement Officer of the Year

Three Melrose public servants will be honored at a banquet on Saturday, Feb. 18 at 7 p.m. at the as the VFW's Teacher, Fighter and Law Enforcement Officer of the Year.

Bob Driscoll, chairman of the Melrose Veterans Advisory Board, provided these nomination letters to Melrose Patch:

Lisa Lord—VFW Teacher of the Year

Lisa Lord has been a social studies teacher at for the last 14 years. In 2007, she began an on-going oral history project about their experiences and responsibilities in the military. Over the last five years, they have interviewed World War II veterans and World War II era civilians, Vietnam, Korean War, Desert Storm veterans as well as veterans of the current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. The format and final product has varied year to year, but every year students learn oral history and note-taking skills while hearing about the history of our country—and our world—from the people who helped shape it.  Student-generated veteran biographies have been published in local papers in recognition of Veterans Day, and one biography (a WWII POW) was printed in the newspaper as a tribute, at the request of the veteran’s family, when he passed away.

One year, Lisa and her students attempted to grow “Victory Gardens” in the classroom as part of a World War II unit, and this year are hoping to partner with a local elementary school that has started a community garden for a student-directed lesson on Victory Gardens this spring.

Additionally, Lisa is working on creating an archive of information on local Melrose veterans. A number of community members have shared or donated war-era magazines, newspapers, family and/or personal photographs, and other artifacts. Ms. Lord has also begun collecting veteran stories and obituaries from local papers. She is hoping later this year to involve students directly in this process, most likely as part of an after-school group.

This year Lisa again lined up veterans from various conflicts to participate in the oral history project, including a WWII veteran who stormed the beaches of Normandy on D-Day and a live-feed conversation via Skype with a former student who is deployed with the Air Force in Afghanistan.

Lisa Lord is quite simply a great teacher with much admiration and respect for the men and woman in uniform. She is most deserving of the VFW’s Teacher of the Year Award.

Lt. Paul Collina—VFW Firefighter of the Year

I would like to nominate Fire Lieutenant Paul Collina for the Veterans of Foreign War Firefighter of the Year Award. Fire Lieutenant/ Paramedic Collina came to Melrose as a firefighter from the Town of Canton. It had been a long term goal of the Melrose Fire Department and the City of Melrose to restore fire based Emergency Medical Services which was contracted out in the early 1990s. The department began successfully operating on June 1 2011 and it has been a tremendous success due to the efforts of Lt. Collina. He is without question personally responsible for the success of this new venture.

Paul oversaw the development of department policies and procedures, worked through the stringent licensing process with the Massachusetts Department of Emergency Medical Services, researched and provided input with the purchase of a new ambulance as well as spearheaded all the required training for department members. His depth of experience and his “give me the ball” attitude was instrumental in the accomplishment of this department’s historic milestone. Paul worked the issues with the State Inspectors, the Director of the city’s billing company, the ambulance manufacturer (he even traveled out of state to the factory), the Medical Director and emergency room staff of the Melrose-Wakefield Hospital, and the staff at Cataldo Ambulance.

Lt. Collina’s mantra throughout the long two year conversion process was “If we are going to do it, we have to do it right." I pledged my support; he delivered and then some! The citizens of the community as well as the members of the City of Melrose Fire Department are better for it.

I could not think of anyone more deserving of this award.

John J. O’Brien
Chief of Department

Robert Mann—VFW Police Office of the Year

Dear Comrades,

It is an honor and privilege to recommend Officer Robert Mann as the Veterans of Foreign War Law Enforcement Officer of the Year. Law enforcement has been a life long passion for Officer Mann from his humble beginnings as an undercover store detective to his honorable service as a distinguished member of the 972nd Military Police with tours in Iraq and Afghanistan to his duty today as the School Resource Officer in his hometown of Melrose. Put simply and truthfully, Officer Robert Mann is the embodiment of the values the VFW looks for in the Law Enforcement Officer of the Year.

Officer Mann made an immediate impact on the Melrose Police Department as one of the founding members of the MPD Color Guard supporting veteran parades and ceremonies, firefighter funerals, and many other civic engagements as well as joining the Regional Response Team (SWAT) responding to high intensity emergencies throughout Middlesex County. In his current position as the Melrose School Resource Officer he has instituted many programs to include a coat drive supporting less fortunate students stay warm in the winter months. He is an executive board member of Operation Resolve—Melrose helping to raise money to send World War II veterans to see their monument in Washington DC. Robert and his Dad also raise money and send calling cards to local military members serving overseas in Operation Enduring Freedom.        

Robert Mann has consistently demonstrated an exceptionally high degree of professional excellence in his various positions in law enforcement. His knowledge of Massachusetts law, total dedication to duty, and his willingness to assist in any capacity has made him a key member of the Melrose Police Department. He is an independent thinker, pays attention to detail, and his energetic approach to his job is highly regarded by his supervisors, peers, and the Melrose community. He is a team player with outstanding personal, academic and professional potential. I am proud to recommend him as the VFW Law Enforcement Officer of the Year. Please give him your utmost consideration.

Respectfully,
Robert E. Driscoll
Commander