Mayor Nominates New Member to Memorial Hall Board

[Editor's note: The following information derives from a press statement from the City of Melrose.]

Mayor Rob Dolan has named Major Eric DiNoto to the Memorial Hall Board of Trustees, replacing Jim Herrington, the former chairman of the board, who stepped down earlier this year. The Board of Aldermen will vote on the appointment on Monday, Sept. 17.

The Memorial Hall board has also chosen former mayor Richard Lyons as their new chair.

"I am pleased to have the honor of nominating Major Eric DiNoto to the Memorial Hall Board," Dolan said. "He has shown his leadership both in active duty in the military and in our own community, as a husband, father, and neighbor. Major DiNoto has given most of his adult life to the military, which makes it particularly appropriate that he will be one of the trustees of Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall."

"We are very, very pleased with the mayor's nomination," Lyons said. "He is an active service person, so he will bring us up to date information on veterans."

DiNoto is the Executive Officer of the 1st Battalion, 182nd Infantry Regiment, which is headquartered in Melrose. He has served in the military for 25 years, the last 15 as a commissioned officer, and has been awarded a Bronze Star, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Combat Infantryman's Badge, and numerous other honors. He was deployed four times, with service in both Afghanistan and Iraq, and while he was there, he said, he was involved in the local communities where he was stationed, by helping support local government and, on his last deployment, organizing a women's bazaar where local women could sell handmade items. "We had 92 women participate, and they were able to feed their families for two months on their earnings," he said.

"I do what I can to help locally when I am in those regions," he added, "and I want to do the same thing in the place that I live. I am a historian—I graduated with a bachelor's degree in history—so I am honored to serve on this Board. I feel there is a historical connection between the soldiers and sailors of the past and the soldiers and sailors of today. Hopefully I can bridge that gap."

Dolan also praised the board's choice of Lyons as chairman. "Mayor Lyons has always taken a strong interest in Memorial Hall, dating back to his days as mayor," he said. "He has been a tireless advocate for the future of this building, and I know he will continue his advocacy as chairman of the Board."

"I have always been partial to Memorial Hall," Lyons said. "There was a period of time when the City was facing some very serious financial issues that there was a threat to close Memorial Hall, and when I was mayor, that was one of my initial promises—that that hall would never, ever close as long as I had anything to say about it. There have been major, major improvements since then. I think Kathy Pigott-Brodeur is an outstanding manager, and along with the Mayor's Office and Mike Lindstrom she takes care of the day-to-day stuff, which is not as easy as it seems. I am very pleased to be a member of this board."