Chapter XXII was created by Doctor John E. McAuliffe, roughly twenty two years ago. Doctor McAuliffe was a Dentist and has devoted his retirement years to educate the general public not only by writing articles concerning the Fallen Heroes and the Veterans of the Battle of the Bulge: but also in the past twenty and some years he has been the President of Chapter XXII. He has led his team to hold at least three annual formal meetings a year, he planned, and organized special events, which were dedicated to erect Memorial Monuments, such as:
(1) VBOB Monument at the Massachusetts Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Agawam, Massachusetts.
(2) VBOB Monument at the Massachusetts Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Bourne, Massachusetts.
(3) VBOB Monument at College Square in Worcester, Massachusetts.
(4) VBOB Monument at the Massachusetts Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Winchendon, Massachusetts.
(5) VBOB Monument in Honor of the “Wereth Eleven”, who were tortured and massacred by the German SS on Sunday 17 December 1944 in Wereth, Belgium. Monument was inaugurated on August 20, 2006 at the Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Winchendon, Massachusetts.
In the past six months Chapter XXII had:
(1) A regular meeting at the Museum of Fort Devens, in Devens, MA.
(2) A very special meeting at the Winchendon Cemetery initiated by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts State Representative S. Harrington, attended by five State Representatives, the State Commissioner of Veterans Affairs, and all branches of the Services in uniform.
(3) A rededication of the Holy Cross VBOB Monument on November 11, 2014 Attended by six State Representatives, one of whom was a guest speaker, the Navy Commander of the Holy Cross ROTC, also Lt/Colonel Ciro Stefano, Commander of the W.P.I. Army ROTC in Worcester, MA., who was the main guest speaker, and the President of the Holy Cross College and many veterans.
Beside the above the Secretary of Chapter XXII was invited by the Junior Air Force ROTC to participate in five question and answer sessions pertaining to the Battle of the Bulge; each session lasting an hour, these were held at the South High School on Apricot Street in Worcester, MA. On March 4, 2015 Chapter XXII was asked to participate in a question and answer session by the West Boylston Historical Society. twenty eight members asked questions from 7:00 to 8:45 PM. This coming Friday March 20, 2015 Chapter XXII will be at the Fort Devens Museum to answer questions from the students of the eight grade class of the Brookline High School, who will be coming from Brookline, New Hampshire. In the last two years Chapter XXII members have attended ceremonies and High School programs at:
- South High in Worcester, MA
- Shirley, MA. High School,
- Ayer, MA. High School,
- Paxton, Ma. Junior High School,
- West Boylston, Ma. High School
- Littleton High School.
Respectfully submitted. Christian W. de Marcken Associate member # A015390 National VBOB, Associate member Chapter XXII VBOB, As a young U.S. citizen was in Belgium all through WWII, Retired Manufacturing Manager, Tufts University Mechanical Engineer 1960, U.S. Army veteran.