Patriot Award winner honors his father’s legacy

At a time when newspapers across the country are transforming – many into oblivion in the digital media revolution  – The Quincy Sun in Massachusetts’ historic “city of presidents” continues to print and publish a thriving community weekly that focuses on local news, features, sports and, significantly, the interests of military veterans.

Second-generation publisher/editor Robert Bosworth accepted the national organization’s prestigious Patriot Award Tuesday, Aug. 30, at the 103rd American Legion National Convention, in Milwaukee

“The patriotic editorial content of the weekly newspaper follows the proud legacies of native sons John Adams, John Quincy Adams and John Hancock,” American Legion National Commander Paul E. Dillard said when presenting the award. “Its coverage of veterans, the military and The American Legion has been top-notch and has continued over the years under the leadership of editor Robert Bosworth … The American Legion has long recognized the importance of a free press in our constitutional republic – much like our nation’s founders who lived in Quincy.”

In emotional acceptance remarks, Bosworth made it clear to whom credit belongs for the newspaper’s continued award-winning vitality: his father, World War II Navy veteran and Legionnaire Henry W. Bosworth Jr.

“Henry was a signalman on the destroyer USS Cogswell in the South Pacific. Cogswell earned 10 battle stars, was never hit by enemy fire and was given the honor as the first American warship in Tokyo Bay for the Japanese surrender in 1945.”

After the war, Henry Bosworth had a successful career as a daily newspaper reporter and columnist in Boston – including a story he wrote about an orphaned boy with muscular dystrophy that caught the attention of Hollywood and a closed-circuit TV episode that “became the forerunner of the Muscular Dystrophy Jerry Lewis Labor Day Telethon,” the Patriot Award winner told thousands of Legionnaires.

Launching The Quincy Sun in September 1968 was the realization of a dream for the elder Bosworth. “For the next 40 years, The Quincy Sun was Henry’s labor of love. He was a tireless worker, dedicated publisher and devoted community leader … Henry treated all with fairness and respect.”

In 2009, the founding publisher passed away at age 84, and his son assumed leadership of the publication, working with his sisters, and following their father’s vision. “One of the cornerstones of The Sun’s coverage has been veterans and The American Legion. Quincy is a very active city when it comes to local veterans. There are parades, memorial observances, ceremonies and other veterans-related news stories that The Sun has covered since our beginning.”

Bosworth thanked the community’s veterans and veterans groups for their part in the national award. “Veterans are an important cornerstone of the community and deserve recognition for everything they have done to defend our nation’s freedom and to help build and sustain the fabric of cities and towns.”

Bosworth reflected on two memorable photos during the coronavirus pandemic that captured some of his father’s values. “I think about taking photos at the 100th birthday party for Dean Schaeffer, a local World War II Marine Corps veteran. One photo shows Mr. Schaeffer standing in salute as neighbors, local firefighters and police, Boy Scouts and others marched by his house on Veterans Day 2020, as a bagpiper played the Marine Hymn. Another photo shows Mr. Schaeffer and his wife of 73 years, Evelyn, beaming from ear to ear when he was presented a patriotic birthday cake. It was one of those smalltown celebrations that Norman Rockwell could have painted for the cover of the Saturday Evening Post.”

Bosworth, a member of Sons of the American Legion Squadron 294, also spoke of attending and covering a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, by a former World War II POW from Quincy, Bob Noble. The ceremony took place on April 9, 2015, on National Former POW Recognition Day, which also happened to be the 70th anniversary of Noble’s release from enemy captivity. “The solemn ceremony for those of us who witnessed it is something we will never forget.”

“Every week, there is coverage of The American Legion and veterans in The Quincy Sun,” says American Legion Past National Commander John P. “Jake” Comer, a subscriber, who presented Bosworth with a Sons of The American Legion cap and shirt during the award presentation onstage at the Wisconsin Convention Center.

As is common for weekly newspapers, Bosworth is publisher, editor, writer, photographer and promoter of local events and activities in the community. The paper commonly runs 32 pages or more a week, with a small staff, and fulfills a website that is equally devoted to local coverage.

“The Quincy Sun has been able to share the stories of … veterans for more than 54 years because of one man’s vision, Henry Bosworth,” the award winner said. “I like to think that Quincy is a better place today because of The Quincy Sun, because of our veterans, because of Henry. He would have greatly appreciated this honor but would have underscored the fact that none of this is possible without the support the paper has received for more than a half-century. Henry liked to say, ‘The Quincy Sun shines in Quincy.’ But nobody shined brighter than Henry Bosworth.”