Date Set for Hingham WWII Hero Traffic Island Ceremony

A ceremony will be held Nov. 8 for Sergeant Boris Demko, a 1943 graduate of Hingham High School killed in action during World War II, who is having a traffic island in Hingham named after him.

Massachusetts legislation, signed by Gov. Deval Patrick, designates the island at the intersection of Beal Street and Route 3A as the Sergeant Boris Demko Memorial Island.

Members of the Demko family along with military, state, and local officials will be present to memorialize Sergeant Demko’s service at 3:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 8, according to a statement from Director of Veterans' Services Keith Jermyn. 

The general public is highly encouraged to attend this unique event. Parking is available in the 99 Restaurant lot.

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation shall erect and maintain a suitable marker bearing that designation which we will unveil during a brief ceremony, Jermyn said. The American Legion and VFW Rifle Squad will fire a salute along with the playing of Taps.

"United States Air Force Sergeant Demko was killed during a B-17 bombing mission in Germany, 1945," Jermyn said. "During the mission, 500 B-17 Bombers were targeting an industrial complex; during the operation over 200 aircrafts were lost, including Sergeant Demko’s. Erecting a memorial to Sergeant Demko will ensure that his memory and hi ultimate sacrifice is honored for generations to come."