Michele G. Lombardo, 96, of Cape Coral, Florida, formerly of Concord, Mass. died Thursday September 17, 2015 in Cape Coral. Born in Concord, MA, May 18, 1919, third of four children. The only son of Joseph and Carmela (Marino) Lombardo who settled in Concord in the early 1900's. His three sisters were Carmela Lombardo, Natala Granchelli and Rosemary Panetta. Mike served as an altar boy for seven years at St. Bernard's Church, (Holy Family Parish). He was elected president of the Junior Sons of Italy, all prior to the age of 16. He graduated from Concord Public Schools in 1936. He served as an usher to 30 years upon returning from military service in 1945. He was the interlocutor for the minstrel shows sponsored by St, Bernard's CYO (Catholic Youth Organization) in 1946 and 1947, and was the President of the Catholic Men's Discussion Group later in the 1950's and early 1960's. He was a member of the Concord Company H 182nd Infantry Regiment, 26th Division from 1936 to 1939. He reenlisted rather than be drafted in 1940 for one year, and remained in service for an additional four years. He was a member of the Americal Division, the only division without a number, which was formed when they were in New Caledonia, and was comprised of the 182nd Infantry Regiment from the Boston area, the 132nd Infantry Regiment from the Chicago area and the 164th Infantry Regiment from North Dakota. They were sent to reinforce the Marines on Guadalcanal. Their units received both the Navy and Army Presidential Unit Citations. Mike was awarded the Legion of Merit for Meritorious Service, the Bronze Star and the Combat Infantry Badge for his service on Guadalcanal. He also served in North Africa and Italy with the 91st Division. He participated in the liberation of Rome and was honorably discharged in 1945. He was mentioned in the Townsend Scudder book "Concord: American Town". He was a member of the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars and Knights of Columbus. Mike was employed by Metropolitan Life Insurance Co. in late 1945; and was promoted to Assistant Manager of their Harvard Square Office in 1950. He spent 10 years in management and 16 more in personal sales. He earned the Charter Life Underwriters Degree in 1958 and retired in 1976. He married Eleanor Dimery of Maynard in 1948, was the father of four children, Patricia Iannuzzo of Pepperell, Jeanne Rose, David Lombardo and Mariellen McDermott, all of Cape Coral, Florida, seven grandchildren and twelve great grandchildren. Mike was appointed to the Comprehensive Town Planning Committee in 1956, the Administrative Code Committee in 1957, the Insurance Study Committee in 1958 and the Finance Committee in 1963. He was elected to the Concord Public School Committee in 1965, re elected in 1968. He was Chairman of that committee in 1967 and of the Concord Carlisle School Committee in 1969. He proposed at Town meeting in 1967 that Concord investigate the desirability of participating in a regional vocational school and was appointed a member of the Minuteman Regional Vocational Technical School Committee and became Treasurer of the school for the following ten years. In 1963, with others, Mike helped re-establish the Concord Minutemen and served as its first Ensign Paymaster (Treasurer). For many years prior to 1975, he served as Parade Division Marshall and one year as Parade Grand Marshall. On April 19, 1975, he served as Marshall of the First Corps of 30,000 marching troops. The Second Corps of 30,000 troops followed. In 1965, he led the Concord Minutemen in their first inaugural parade at the inauguration of President Lyndon B. Johnson. He was appointed to the 1975 Celebrations Committee of 25, charged with preparing the festivities for April 19, 1975. He served on three Sub-committees: 1) Parade; 2) Permanent Memorial; 3) Patriots Day Ball (Chairman). Mike was instrumental in convincing the town meeting assembly that Concord desired and needed an imposing and impressive 130 ft flagpole to replace the former pole in Concord center. In 1985, as a member of the Gift Sub-committee of the 350th Anniversary Committee, he spearheaded the movement to illuminate and fly the United States flag 24 hours each day in Concord center. He was appointed to and elected Chairman of the Cemetery Committee in 1980, serving for six years and helping plan cemetery expansions. In the late 1980's, Mike and Eleanor left their beloved Concord for the warmer climate of Cape Coral, Florida where they enjoyed their retirement years. Funeral will be held Friday September 25th from the Dee Funeral Home, 27 Bedford Street, CONCORD CENTER at 10 am followed by a funeral Mass in Holy Family Parish, Monument Square, Concord Center at 11 am. Interment with military honors will follow in Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, Concord. Visiting hours at the Dee Funeral Home will be on Thursday Sept. 24th from 7 to 9 pm. Concord's town flag will fly at half-staff on Friday Sept. 25th in recognition of Mr. Lombardo's service to his country during World War II. Contributions in his memory may be made to the charity of one's choice.