Pre-school students created a sign hung outside of Community Children's Center on Chapin Street, where Desforges was a student 20 years ago.
05.21.2010 | Photo by Ray Kelly / The Republican | LUDLOW - A sign along East Street, not far from Ludlow Funeral Home.
LUDLOW - American and Marine flags and red, white and blue ribbons dotted portions of East and Chapin streets as the town readied early this morning to pay its final respects to Marine Sgt. Joshua D. Desforges, a Ludlow resident killed last week during combat in Afghanistan.
Near Ludlow Funeral Home on East Street, a handmade sign read "God Bless Sgt. Desforges - Semper Fi."
Outside Community Children's Center on Chapin Street, where Desforges was a student 20 years ago, director Edith M. Chenevert and her assistant, Joanne F. Fenney, hung a sign made by pre-school students.
05.21.2010 | Photo by Ray Kelly / The Republican | LUDLOW - Director Edith M. Chenevert (in yellow) and her assistant, Joanne F. Fenney, hang a sign outside Community Children's Center on Chapin St."This is a celebration of Josh's life," Chenevert said as she taped the red, white and blue sign featuring handprints of many of the 56 students and bearing the inscription "Our Hero, Sgt. Josh."
The youngsters have been told the event is a hero's parade, said Chenevert, adding that some are aware of the loss.
Desforges is the first Ludlow resident killed in action in more than 40 years since the Vietnam War.
The private funeral is planned for 11 a.m. Friday at Westover Air Reserve Base in Chicopee. The funeral procession will leave Ludlow Funeral Home at 10 a.m. and travel up East Street to Chapin Street to Fuller Street to the Chicopee base. Only invited guests of the family will be allowed on the base for the funeral ceremony.
School in Ludlow has been closed for the day and residents are invited to park at Ludlow High School, Veterans Park Elementary School, Baird Middle School and Chapin Street School to participate.
The Ludlow High School band will play in front of Ludlow High School during the procession.
MassLive.com will carry live updates from Ludlow and Westover beginning at 10 a.m.