Lawrence mourns Marine sergeant killed in Kabul, awaits memorial events

LAWRENCE, Mass. — The City of Lawrence is in mourning following the death of Marine Sgt. Johanny Rosario. Residents are now waiting for a scheduled memorial service and procession that has yet to be finalized, according to the city’s mayor.

Mayor Kendrys Vasquez ordered all city flags to be lowered to half-staff this week as this community grieves the loss of one of their own.

“Myself and the City of Lawrence are particularly saddened that one of those brave souls was a daughter of our city, Sergeant Johanny Rosario,” Mayor Vasquez said .

Sgt. Johanny Rosario, identified by Pentagon officials as a Marine, was one of 13 U.S. Service Members killed in Afghanistan Thursday. She graduated from Lawrence High School and joined the Marines when she turned 18.

“This is a time for us to come together as one community to pay tribute to the heroic actions of Johanny, who, in the spirit of Lawrencians, gave her all to give refuge to those in need,” Mayor Vasquez said.

[ Who were the US service personnel killed in Kabul? Some things to know ]

People living in Lawrence were shocked to learn one of their neighbors was killed in this week’s bombing at the airport in Kabul as refugees tried to leave Afghanistan. Rosario was 25 years old.

“It was devastating, absolutely devastating, especially with the wind-down and everything coming down, you just don’t expect it,” said Jaime Melendez, the director of Veteran Services in Lawrence.

Melendez met Rosario when she was in the junior ROTC program of Lawrence. When he heard she was killed in the attack, he thought of her fellow Marines and loved ones.

“The first was, ‘oh my god, the family.’ So to them I personally want to say we are here to support you with whatever you need,” Melendez said.

The number of service members killed in action in Lawrence will now be raised to 777.

“It’s very, very sad what’s happening over there in Afghanistan, and I feel so bad for the girl who was killed,” said Marisol Gonzalez, who lives in Lawrence.

“We shouldn’t live in a world like this, it sucks it comes from our own hometown,” said Eli Cristian, who lives in Lawrence.

Mayor Vasquez says he’s offering support to Rosario’s family as the city finds ways to honor her for years to come. Now attention turns to bringing the fallen daughter of Lawrence back home.

“I will ensure that the City of Lawrence never forgets her name and we will always remember her as the hero that she is,” Vasquez said.

“The City of Lawrence will be going to pick up one of their daughters and we will show the respect and honor that her sacrifice, and the sacrifice that her family is enduring, we will honor it,” Melendez said.

A final chance to say goodbye and say thank you for making the greatest sacrifice possible to the nation.

“I ask everybody to remember her, please say her name…Johanny Rosario, Sergeant United States Marine Corps. May she rest in peace and Godspeed,” Melendez said.

Mayor Vasquez said Rosario is survived by her mother and sister, who both live in Lawrence, and he hopes to plan a service to honor and celebrate her life in the coming days. The family of Johanny Rosario has asked for their privacy to be respected, they have also specified how they would like to receive support from community members.

For those who would like to donate to the family, the only verified means of collecting funds is through their GoFundMe page. For those interested in donating to the page, click here.

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