Remembering A Fallen Soldier: Joshua Desforges

Hundreds of people in Ludlow, Massachusetts lined the town's streets to pay final respects to Sargeant Joshua Desforges, a 23 year-old native son who died May 12th in Afghanistan. He is the first Ludlow soldier to die in combat since the Vietnam war. WFCR's Karen Brown has more.

Under the hot sun, a solemn and virtually silent town watched as the body of Joshua Desforges was driven through the streets of this small community. Schools were closed, red, white and blue ribbons were wrapped around utility poles, and several store marquees stated simply, "Joshua Desforges, American Hero". Madelein Resecki used to work at the local school with Desforges' mother, Arlene.

"My heart just aches for the loss of her son. He dedicated his life to our country. I just would hear Arlene say what a wonderful son he was, and how proud she was of him."

Anna Rodrigo didn't know the family - but she says Ludlow is so close-knit, any loss hits hard. And for her, Desforges' death felt very personal.

"My brother was in the Marines, and he was a sargeant when he left. He got killed six years ago in a motorcycle accident, and he had all the Marines come out, just like Josh did, and just hit close to home."

Another spectator, Ed O'Neil, was holding an American flag and wearing a baseball cap that said "Korean Veteran". Nevertheless, he was angry and frustrated at the death of another young person.

"I was a former Marine. What a waste. For what? The war, and what's happening over there. Same thing happened when I was in, ended up in a stalemate."

The funeral procession ended in a private ceremony at Westover Airforce Base, where Joshua Desforges was honored by Governor Deval Patrick, alongside other government and military officials, and members of the Desforges family.

For WNPR, I'm Karen Brown.