Perrier, an infantryman in Korea, spoke of losing a close friend in combat.
EASTHAMPTON -- Korean War veterans in the city finally have their own memorial.
The former Manhan Bridge on Route 10 in Easthampton was renamed and dedicated as the Korean War Veterans Memorial Bridge Saturday morning. Uniformed war veterans from around the region turned out for the dedication ceremony, three days before the nation commemorates Veterans Day.
The bridge was replaced last year at a cost of $3.75 million.
Mark Subocz, commander of the American Legion Post 224, introduced dignitaries including Mayor Karen Cadieux, former Mayor Michael Tautznik, Sen. Donald Humason, Rep. John Scibak, and former Sen. Michael Knapik.
Each in turn honored Army Sgt. Fran Perrier, a Korean War combat veteran who shepherded the idea of the bridge dedication from beginning to end.
Cadieux said Perrier had "never, ever, stopped organizing to have this bridge dedication happen for the Korean War veterans."
Subocz said Perrier first presented the idea to the Veterans Council and the American Legion. "We then spoke with then-Senator Michael Knapik and Rep. John Scibak. They sponsored a bill through the State House, and had it signed by the governor, dedicating this bridge to Korean War veterans."
Humason picked up on the bill when he took office, said Subocz, giving it a final push through the state Senate.
Most of the Korean War veterans are about 80 years old now, he said.
Scibak spoke of having coffee with Perrier two years ago, and hearing about the idea for the first time. "He asked me to sponsor legislation to dedicate the bridge to Korean War veterans," said Scibak.
Perrier, stepping to the podium, said the Korean War lasted 36 months and took the lives of 54,286 Americans. The conflict is often referred to as "the forgotten war," he said.
"Every time somebody goes by and they see that sign up there -- the Korean War Memorial Bridge -- they'll think twice about what happened to all those guys."
Perrier said three of those killed were from Easthampton, including one who is still missing.
Easthampton police halted traffic as a color guard stood at attention on the bridge. Veterans held American flags, as well as flags from the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion Riders, and Sons of the American Legion Riders.
Six riflemen issued an 18-gun salute. A bugler played taps as those gathered bowed their heads.
Speaking to a reporter, Perrier said he himself was in the 31st Infantry in the Korean War.
"I was a rifleman," he said. "They had a guy who was with me from Chicopee, Norman LaPlante. Him and I were like brothers out there. We made a pact -- if anything happens to me, he would go see my wife. If something happened to him, I'd go see his family. I finally went to see his family and that was the worst thing I had to do."
Perrier said seeing the bridge finally dedicated to those who fought in Korea was "very emotional" for him.
Mayor Karen Cadieux, after thanking the Mass. Dept. of Transportation and the residents of Easthampton for their patience during bridge reconstruction, offered words of gratitude to our nation's veterans.
"Without this bridge we wouldn't have a dedication, but without our veterans, we wouldn't be here, or have a bridge at all."
The structurally-deficient bridge closed in June of 2013 and re-opened in October of that year, five weeks ahead of schedule. The bridge replacement included a permanent signal at West Street, which Cadieux called a "significant safety improvement."
The Korean War began in June of 1950 when some 75,000 soldiers from the North Korean People's Army poured across the 38th parallel into the Republic of Korea. Within weeks, the United States under President Truman sent troops. By the July 1953 armistice, some 5 million soldiers and civilians had lost their lives.