Body of Marine sergeant killed in Afghanistan to return to MA on 9/11

LAWRENCE, Mass. — The body of U.S. Marine Sgt. Johanny Rosario will return to Massachusetts on Saturday, September 11, the Massachusetts State Police confirmed to Boston 25 News. Sgt. Rosario was killed in Kabul, Afghanistan when an explosion killed 13 service members.

The 25-year-old graduated from Lawrence High School and attended Bridgewater State University before joining the Marines.

“The City of Lawrence will be going to pick up one of their daughters and we will show them respect and honor that her sacrifice and the sacrifice that her family is enduring we will honor it,” said Jaime Melendez, director of Veterans Services for the City of Lawrence, in late August following Rosario’s death.

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“I’ve known her for a long time, took her apple picking for the first time,” said family friend Felix Alvarado. “It broke my heart, she was an amazing person, I miss her a lot.”

The suicide bombing that killed Sgt. Rosario happened outside of the Kabul airport.

“She helped 30,000 people to safety before she was killed by a suicide bomber,” MA Gov. Charlie Baker said at a vigil honoring Rosario’s life and sacrifice.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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