New England Patriots Foundation Honors Babson Student and Vietnam Veteran

Vietnam veteran Richard Battista MBA’23 shakes hands with former Patriots Linebacker Andre Tippett as Patriots offensive lineman Cole Strange (center) looks on. | Courtesy of the New England Patriots/Eric J. Adler.

Richard Battista MBA’23, a Bronze Star recipient who served as a combat infantryman in the Vietnam War, joined 99 of his fellow Vietnam veterans Wednesday at Gillette Stadium to be honored for his service by the New England Patriots Foundation.

Battista, 73, got a chance to shake hands with Patriots offensive lineman Cole Strange, former Patriots linebacker Andre Tippett, and Patriots owner Robert Kraft’s family as he and his fellow veterans were honored at a special pinning ceremony.

“I met Josh Kraft, who is Bob Kraft’s son,” Battista said. “I did invite him to the Babson College campus to spend some time with students.”

The ceremony commemorated National Vietnam War Veterans Day. The United States of America Vietnam War Commemoration established the Commemorative Partner Program, an initiative to thank and honor Vietnam veterans and their families, and the Patriots have joined them in their efforts to pay tribute to those who served.

Veterans and family members also were treated to a luncheon after the ceremony.

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