City To Unveil Plaques In Honor Of Fallen War Heroes

Eagle Tribune - North Andover, MA, USA

Published: February 08, 2009 02:11 am

By Yadira Betances
ybetances@eagletribune.com

LAWRENCE — Two heroes of the war in Iraq will be immortalized here with city squares named after them.

"This is one way the city of Lawrence continues to honor veterans and those who have served our country," said Francisco Urena, director of Veteran's Services.

A plaque in honor of Army Reserve Sgt. Pierre Raymond will be placed at the corner of South Broadway and Andover streets, near his family's home in South Lawrence.

Raymond died in Germany on Sept. 20, 2005, from chest and neck injuries received Sept. 15 when he was hit by flying shrapnel in his sleeping quarters near Ramadi, Iraq.

In the northern part of the city, a plaque will be placed at the baseball field where Staff Sgt. Alex Jimenez used to play on Lawrence Street.

Jimenez was captured during an ambush May 12, 2007. He remained missing in action for 14 months, until his remains were recovered last July.

Urena said the City Council unanimously approved the squares last year. The two blue plaques with white lettering bearing the soldier's names, ranks and when they died, are ready to be unveiled.

Urena is coordinating with the Raymond and Jimenez families for a convenient time to unveil them when the weather is warmer.

"The locations are very visible so all pedestrians and visitors can see and honor these heroes from the city," Urena said.

This is not the first time Raymond has been honored by the city.

His name is engraved on the first brick in a memorial walking path at the Veterans Memorial Stadium, and he was the first veteran honored in 2006 when the stadium opened after a $7 million renovation.