When a group of local Vietnam War veterans march in Methuen’s inaugural St. Patrick’s Day Parade, they will display a new banner that will surely draw spectator attention – the name and face of two Methuen soldiers who sacrificed their life in the war.

The banner, approximately 4 feet high and 12 feet long, features the words “Methuen Vietnam War Hometown Heroes” with a silhouette of five soldiers in front of a U.S. flag. On the left side of the banner is a large photo of Private First Class John Albert Fontaine in his U.S. Army uniform. A photo of Richard Edward Potter, also an Army private first class, is on the right side. He, too, is in uniform.

Approximately 15 veterans have traditionally walked in local parades, according to Ed “Hoppy” Curran, a member of Methuen VFW Post 8349 and a former veterans director for the city.

“We walk because the boys can’t,” Curran said. “That’s how we honor them.”

Fontaine, who was born Feb. 18, 1945, died April 24, 1966, at the age of 21. He was a medic who was reported to have been responding to a wounded soldier before he died from multiple fragment wounds.

Potter, one of five children, was born Jan. 14, 1948, and attended Methuen’s high school before enlisting in the Army. He was also a medic.
“He wanted to make a difference,” said his brother Patric, who is two years younger than Richard.

Richard, who was in Vietnam approximately six weeks, died May 26, 1967, at the age of 19. According to the military, he died from hostile action.

For years, local veterans carried a banner in parades featuring the names of 18 Lawrence men with the words “They kept Lawrence free.”
According to Curran, Gil Rodrigues, another Vietnam veteran from Methuen and a member of his post, came up with the idea to have a banner made to specifically honor the two Methuen men who were killed, both recipients of the Bronze Star and Purple Heart.

Curran liked the idea and contacted Rick Harvey at Harvey Signs Inc., in Methuen, to have the banner made. The banner was sponsored by the Lawrence Vietnam Memorial Road Race.

“He’s done all our banners up and does a great job,” said Curran.

Veterans will carry both banners when they walk in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Saturday, March 21.

“The Vietnam banner, we’ve been walking with that for 20 years. We used to do the St. Patrick Day Parade in Lawrence. We walk in the Memorial and Veterans Day parades every year with the banner. But now the two guys from Methuen will be ‘joining’ us,” Curran said.

Patric Potter said he’s pleased that his older brother is being honored on the banner.

“Methuen does a nice job. These guys do a nice job of keeping the memory up,” Patric said of Curran and other veterans. “There are several things they’ve done over the years.”

He noted that a ball field on Pelham Street is named after his brother, something he said Curran was instrumental in getting done. And he was happy to see The Wall That Heals, a replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, come to Methuen in 2022.

Richard, one of five kids, was two years older than him.

“He had a tough life,” Patric said. “He wasn’t spoiled. He had his share of problems. He thought the Army would be a good way to resolve some of those issues and could make a difference. We didn’t have time to get to know each other really well.”

Curran describes his city as “very pro veteran.”

A monument honoring Fontaine sits in front of the local police station, he said. His VFW post awards $1,000 scholarships annually to two graduating Methuen High seniors. Contestants write an essay: What does a veteran mean to me?

“Vietnam vets have a good bond. We’ve always had,” Curran said. “The war we were in. I hate to mention it – the way we were treated – that brought us closer. Today, it’s a brotherhood really. These guys are always there.”

And they will continue to honor their fallen comrades.
“As long as we can walk, we’ve got our health, we’re going to do it,” Curran said.