Four Honored for the Service During Newton Veterans Day Ceremony

Newton saluted all of its veterans Monday at the American Legion Post 440, and Mayor Setti Warren recognized four people for their contributions to their country, veterans and the community.

The veterans’ recognition was the first in what will become a regular Veterans Day event, Warren said.

Paul DeMeo

In World War II, Paul DeMeo served first in an anti-tank unit, but eventually the Germans “stopped sending tanks,” he said. Then he became part of a machine gunner unit in northern Italy.

After the war, DeMeo and his wife moved to Newton, where they raised eight children and passed on the tradition of serving one’s country. Two graduated from West Point and one from Annapolis, Warren said. He also worked a Raytheon and helped develop the microwave oven.

Kathleen Briere

Born in Lowell, Kathleen Briere served nine years in active and reserve duty in the U.S. Army Reserve. She deployed to Afghanistan in 2011 to 2012. She moved to Newton two years ago and served on the steering committee that created the Veterans Center located in the basement of American Legion Post 440.

Brian Henderson

Not only did Brian Henderson serve in the U.S. Army for 38 years, he has also been a Newton Police officer for 32 years.

Henderson reached the rank of command sergeant major and served three deployments to Iraq – in 2003, 2009 and 2010 – as well as to Panama, Haiti, Central America and Bosnia. During that time he was awarded the Bronze Star, Warren said.

He works as a patrol sergeant for the Newton Police and is in charge of the streets unit. He has eight children from age 2.5 to 38.

Nikki Likely

In 1960, Nikki Likely moved to Newton, and her son served in Vietnam. In 1971, Richard Likely was killed in Vietnam just after his 20th birthday. Nikki devoted herself to caring for others.

She has become an important member of the Gold Star Mothers – an organization of mothers who lost children who died while serving their country. She is the treasure of the Massachusetts/Rhode Island Chapter of Gold Star Mothers, and has testified in Boston and Washington, D.C.

Likely started a bereavement group at her parish church for those who recently lost a loved one, and works on the board of the New England Shelter for Homeless Veterans. She also works with the Newton Parks and Recreation Department.