South Boston Citizens’ Association President Thomas E. McGrath has announced that Edward Flynn of the U.S. Navy (Retired) will serve as General Chairman of the Association’s 2017 Evacuation Day commemoration by the SBCA Executive Board.
“The executive board and I look forward to working with Ed, to ensure once again the success of this unique community celebration, the commemoration of the British evacuation of Boston in 1776,” said McGrath. Eddie is a lifelong resident and active member of the SBCA his entire adult life. His dedication to the South Boston Citizens’ Association and the neighborhood of South Boston will continue to make it a great place for all who live here. We are honored to list him as a member, and even prouder to name him this year’s General Chairman.”
Ed Flynn enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1987 and retired from military service in 2014. While in the U.S. Navy, Flynn served on active duty at Joint Task Force Guantanamo, with the Navy’s 5th Fleet in the Persian Gulf and on the Iraqi oil platforms, and served on a U.S. Department of Defense task force in Washington, D.C., helping coordinate transportation services for the 2005 presidential inaugural.
Flynn served as public affairs coordinator at the U.S. Naval War College and completed training in homeland security, public safety and leadership development. He retired from the Navy and is Veteran of Operation Enduring Freedom and the Global War on Terrorism. In his professional life, Ed Flynn currently serves as a Probation Officer at Suffolk Superior Court and helps coordinate their reentry program and works with local law enforcement officials on public safety concerns and community policing efforts.
Additionally, Flynn worked at the U.S. Department of Labor in Washington, D.C., and worked on efforts to increase the federal minimum wage, the Family and Medical Leave Act and for safer working conditions for millions of American workers. Ed Flynn is married to Kristen and they have two children, Caroline and Stephen.
The Association, along with Mass Bay Credit Union and Comcast will once again be sponsoring a full roster of civic and sporting events over a three-week period as part of its annual commemorative celebration of Evacuation Day.
The Association’s events begin with the Jimmy Flaherty Kick-Off Breakfast on Saturday February 25th, at the Sea-Point Restaurant 10:00A.M., where the Henry Knox Un-sung Hero Awards will be presented, followed by a host of educational and athletic events throughout the month of March. This year’s SBCA commemorative events will also include the Memorial Mass and Memorial Exercises at the Dorchester Heights Monument on Friday, March 17th, with the 137th Annual Evacuation Day Banquet at the Boston Convention Center later that evening.
The full schedule of events, as well as the identities of the 2017 Henry Knox Award, John W. McCormack Public Service Award, The SBCA Presidents Award and James “Jim” Kelly/Margret “Peggy” Flaherty Shamrock Community Service awards, will be announced in the coming weeks.
“I remind everyone that a limited number of tickets are available for our Banquet, which is the capstone event of the 2017 commemorative activities,” Stated McGrath. “Anyone who is interested in purchasing tickets to the banquet should email me as soon as possible at tmcgrath1963@gmail.com.”
