A City's Collective Resolve to Honor Victims of Marathon Bombing

About 50 Nashua Police officers will don their dress blues today as they head to the MIT campus for a private memorial service for fallen MIT police officer Sean Collier, 27, who was shot and killed April 18 in the line of duty by the two alleged Marathon bombers.

Nashua Police Lt. Michael Moushegian, among those attending the April 24 service, said it will be a time to mourn together as well as a time to honor a fellow officer, who made the ultimate sacrifice.

"The tragic loss of Officer Sean Collier is felt by all of us within the law enforcement community. Members of the Nashua Police force look forward to sharing this occasion with our fellow officers, and to honor Sean Collier's life, and his sacrifice," Moushegian said.

Nashua's Special Response Team members were among the first responders summoned by Boston law enforcement officials to assist following the April 15 bomb blast.

During the April 23 Alderman's meeting, several Alderman reinforced the hometown pride they felt during last week's events, knowing Nashua was part of the effort to restore stability to that community.

"As a former Bostonian, born and raised there, I'd like to read R-13 107 into record" said Alderman Art Craffey, of a Resolution adopted at the top of the meeting to honor the victims. 

Resolution 13-107 RESOLVED by the Board of Aldermen and the Mayor of the City of Nashua and on behalf of the people of Nashua that our thoughts and prayers go out to everyone impacted by the horrific explosions at the Boston Marathon on April 15, 2013. We are all united in grief and support for the victims of this tragedy, the people of Boston, the first responders and all the medical staff involved. 

Craffey continued, saying given the uncertainty of the volatile situation, Nashua Police demonstrated bravery and represented the city with honor.

"I've been to a number of marathons before, it's very congested. We're lucky there weren't more tragedies that day. I spoke to a lot of my friends down there in Boston – they said it was a ghost town, like a sci-fi movie, a zombie apocalypse. If you were out, the police wanted to now why you were out," Craffey said.

Alderman Richard Dowd said he was traveling during the incident, and noted that CNN mentioned Nashua's SRT by name.

"Nashua's unit was deployed by Boston, which immediately recognized their professional abilities, and that's a credit to Nashua," Dowd said. "They were risking their lives going door-to-door during the manhunt for Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, 19, one of the two bombing suspects.

During public comment, resident Stacie Laughton also took a moment to thank those from Nashua who assisted in Boston.

"I also want to thank our police, fire and EMS members for what they do to keep us safe," Laughton said.

She added that she recently began the city-sponsored CERT training, which takes on new meaning for her.

"It means all the more to be able to take this training, so in future I can be ready if there's a disaster here. I thank the city of Nashua for offering that to the residents, and I thank our first responders everywhere, for what they do," Laughton said.

Today's MIT memorial service, which begins at noon at Briggs Field, will be for "public safety personnel, MIT family, dignitaries only." Vice President Joe Biden will be in attendance. More details for attendees, including road closures, are available from Cambridge Police here.