10 members of Swampscott’s Class of 2004 entered military
Swampscott --The 10 members of the Swampscott High School Class of 2004, who joined the military after graduation, are scattered around the globe—yet they stand united in spirit as they wait for the body of their classmate Army Specialist Jared Raymond to be brought home.
U.S. Navy Petty Officer Mark Dunnigan, who graduated with Raymond, said he received a call from another one of their classmates—U.S. Marine Lance Corporal Joseph Vinard, who is still in Iraq.
“He was in shock. He is absolutely devastated,” Dunnigan said. “He is angry he can’t come home for the funeral. He wanted me to make sure everyone knows Jared is a hero.”
Raymond was killed Tuesday—a mere 45 minutes before his patrol was to end. According to the Army, he was responding to an attack on a convoy when a bomb blew up the tank he was driving.
U.S. Air Force Airman Michael Costello, who is currently stationed in Tampa, said Raymond did a job few people are willing to do.
“I give him all the credit in the world. He had guts,” Costello said. “He was a great friend and one of the best kids I know.I’m going to try to get home for the funeral.“
Airman Michael Dunnigan, who is Mark Dunnigan’s twin brother, is stationed in South Carolina and scheduled for deployment to Iraq in June, said Raymond was a true friend.
“He was a genuine kid. He’s one of those kids who would take the shirt off his back for you,” he said.
Michael Dunnigan, who said he would be home for the funeral, said he hopes the whole community turns out to pay its respect.
“This boy was 19 and he gave his life. I hope everyone turns out for his funeral. He is a hero and should be honored.”
Retired Army Pfc. Justin Mooers, a 1999 graduate of SHS, was older than Raymond, but the two were close. Mooers, who was with the 2nd Battalion 6th Infantry, was electrocuted and lost his leg in a freak accident in Germany in 2003. Mooers tearfully recounted conversations he had with Raymond.
“He asked me about joining the military,” he said. “It was something we talked about after 9/11.”
Mooers, who lives in Texas and is expecting the birth of his first child any day, said he hopes to make it home for the funeral.
“Jared was supposed to be coming to our house for Thanksgiving,” he said. “I’m going to still set a place for him at our table. He was too young to die and had a promising future ahead of him.”
AJ Tennant, who was president of the Class of 2003, said members of the class are brainstorming ways to memorialize Raymond.
“There are 10 members of our class who joined the service,” he said. “Unfortunately Jared passed away and we want to find an appropriate way to remember him. One idea is to plant a tree in his memory at the new high school. His life was too short-- a tree will grow and it could symbolize what he would he would have accomplished if he lived.”
In addition to what the Class of 2004 is doing, the veterans agent has establish a fund for donations help defray funeral expenses and to establish a memorialscholarship. Anyone who would like to make a donation should send it to Jared Raymond Fund, C/O Eastern Bank, 405 Paradise Road, Swampscott, MA 01907.
Source: Lynn Item
U.S. Navy Petty Officer Mark Dunnigan, who graduated with Raymond, said he received a call from another one of their classmates—U.S. Marine Lance Corporal Joseph Vinard, who is still in Iraq.
“He was in shock. He is absolutely devastated,” Dunnigan said. “He is angry he can’t come home for the funeral. He wanted me to make sure everyone knows Jared is a hero.”
Raymond was killed Tuesday—a mere 45 minutes before his patrol was to end. According to the Army, he was responding to an attack on a convoy when a bomb blew up the tank he was driving.
U.S. Air Force Airman Michael Costello, who is currently stationed in Tampa, said Raymond did a job few people are willing to do.
“I give him all the credit in the world. He had guts,” Costello said. “He was a great friend and one of the best kids I know.I’m going to try to get home for the funeral.“
Airman Michael Dunnigan, who is Mark Dunnigan’s twin brother, is stationed in South Carolina and scheduled for deployment to Iraq in June, said Raymond was a true friend.
“He was a genuine kid. He’s one of those kids who would take the shirt off his back for you,” he said.
Michael Dunnigan, who said he would be home for the funeral, said he hopes the whole community turns out to pay its respect.
“This boy was 19 and he gave his life. I hope everyone turns out for his funeral. He is a hero and should be honored.”
Retired Army Pfc. Justin Mooers, a 1999 graduate of SHS, was older than Raymond, but the two were close. Mooers, who was with the 2nd Battalion 6th Infantry, was electrocuted and lost his leg in a freak accident in Germany in 2003. Mooers tearfully recounted conversations he had with Raymond.
“He asked me about joining the military,” he said. “It was something we talked about after 9/11.”
Mooers, who lives in Texas and is expecting the birth of his first child any day, said he hopes to make it home for the funeral.
“Jared was supposed to be coming to our house for Thanksgiving,” he said. “I’m going to still set a place for him at our table. He was too young to die and had a promising future ahead of him.”
AJ Tennant, who was president of the Class of 2003, said members of the class are brainstorming ways to memorialize Raymond.
“There are 10 members of our class who joined the service,” he said. “Unfortunately Jared passed away and we want to find an appropriate way to remember him. One idea is to plant a tree in his memory at the new high school. His life was too short-- a tree will grow and it could symbolize what he would he would have accomplished if he lived.”
In addition to what the Class of 2004 is doing, the veterans agent has establish a fund for donations help defray funeral expenses and to establish a memorialscholarship. Anyone who would like to make a donation should send it to Jared Raymond Fund, C/O Eastern Bank, 405 Paradise Road, Swampscott, MA 01907.
Source: Lynn Item
posted by VIPER1 at 8:06 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
Links to this post:
Create a Link
<< Home