Marine Sgt. Joshua D. Desforges, of Ludlow, was killed in combat this week in a remote part of Afghanistan, according to military officials.
WEST SPRINGFIELD – Although they have been blanketing cemeteries with American flags since 2001, this year was different for a local chapter of Young Marines.
An alumnus, Marine Sgt. Joshua D. Desforges, recently made the ultimate sacrifice.
“You’ll always be with us, Josh,” said James Berelli Jr., director of the Veterans Services office in West Springfield, after leading a group of children and veterans in a “heaven salute” to the fallen Marine.
Desforges, of Ludlow, was killed in combat this week in a remote part of Afghanistan, according to military officials. He was 23.
The Marine Corps League of Westfield sponsors the Young Marines, a national network that is much like it sounds: children in military garb schooled in military manners who perform community services such as the flag blitz at St. Thomas Cemetery.
Desforges had been a member of the Young Marines for seven years before he enlisted in the Marines straight out of high school in 2004.
“Remember him? We can’t forget him,” said Sgt. Major Edward C. Mitrook, unit commander of the regional Young Marine programs. “He was a mentor to many of the younger Young Marines.”
On Saturday, about 100 including the Young Marines, local veterans and civilians gathered at the cemetery to place about 2,500 flags on veterans’ gravesites.
Berelli and his wife, Susan, coordinate the biannual effort just before Veterans Day and Memorial Day.
“A vet should be honored every day,” said Berelli, who was a combat soldier in Vietnam.
Several of the Young Marines agreed.
Staff Sgt. Brittany Twining, 14, of Hampden, said she believes many children need to think about the sacrifices men and women in the military sign on to make.
“Kids our age need to realize there are people out there dying for us - for freedom and peace,” she said.
Mitrook said while most young children played soldier, Desforges was partial to Semper Fi.
“Most kids at 5 or 6 played Army. He always played Marine,” he said.