One
Book Holyoke 2010
Opening Event Pictures
Copyright 2010 Penni
Martorell
One-Book Holyoke, a two-month long celebration of the power of
the written word, will host a series of events celebrating Tim O'Brien’s "The Things They Carried":
Program
Vietnam veteran speakers Jim Munroe and Gumersindo Gomez
Holyoke High School Chorus
Holyoke High School band
Dramatic Read (from title chapter) by Enchanted Circle Theater
Greetings from Mayor Pluta
About the Speakers
Mr. Gumersindo Gomez
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
VA/VVA ACCREDITED SERVICE OFFICER
VIETNAM VETERAN
20 YEAR VETERAN (RETIRED), U.S. ARMY
sgtgomez@aol.com
Gumersindo Gomez, born in Puerto Rico, joined the Army in 1966
and served in South Vietnam with the infantry. He served in the
Army for 20 years. After discharge, he moved to Springfield, where
he co-founded the Puerto Rican Veterans Association of Massachusetts,
which today is formally known as The Western Mass Bi-lingual Veterans
Outreach Center of Western Massachusetts. He now serves as the
Executive Director of that organization, which advocates for area
veterans, helps veterans with claims, and manages two transitional
homes for homeless veterans. The Springfield Outreach Center and
a sister center opened in Boston in 2007, serve all veterans—Hispanic,
Caucasian and African American. Mr. Gomez is an accredited Service
Officer of the Veterans Administration and the Vietnam Veterans
of America.
The Reverend James Munroe
DEAN, CHRIST CHURCH EPISCOPAL CATHEDRAL, SPRINGFIELD
BOARD MEMBER AND SPEAKER, VETERANS EDUCATION PROJECT
VIETNAM VETERAN OF THE U.S. MARINE CORPS
Jim Munroe left college to join the U.S. Marine Corps. Assigned
to a base in California for a year, he volunteered for service
in South Vietnam. Stationed with an artillery unit in 1968 and
‘69, he was badly wounded when his firebase was attacked
and overrun by the North Vietnamese Army. He returned to the U.S.
for treatment and was discharged with a purple heart as a result
of his wounds. After his return he finished college and Seminary
school, and is now an Episcopal Priest. Father Munroe has served
churches in NYC, Greenfield, Northampton, and is currently the
Dean at the Christ Church Cathedral in Springfield. In addition
to his regular duties, he is very active in programs that help
the homeless of Springfield. He is a long time speaker and Board
member for the Veterans Education Project.
Mr. John Haag (Actor)
John Haag has narrated over 70 titles in a wide
range of genres for the National Library Service’s reading
program for the vision impaired, as well as for commercial publishers,
including Recorded Books, Audible, Oasis Audio and Hovel Audio.
You can find samples of John’s vocal work on his website
(http://www.johnhaag.biz/). He has performed with Enchanted Circle
Theater in BETWEEN THE CANALS: The Evolution of a Mill Town.
