Marine Sgt. Johanny Rosario Pichardo

KIA Aug. 26, 2021 Kabul, Afghanistan

Lawrence Mayor Kendrys Vasquez said Rosario died brining hope to people who needed it.

"We can find comfort knowing that her sacrifice was not in vain — that her smile and bravery are the two wings on which the hopes and dreams of the most vulnerable will fly like eagles from Lawrence to Kabul," he said.

Rosario, 25, died in the Aug. 26 bombing at the Kabul airport, where people were being evacuated amid the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan. A dozen other U.S. service members and 169 Afghans were killed.

Rosario, who was of Dominican origin, served with the Naval Amphibious Force, Task Force 51/5th Marine Expeditionary Brigade.

Gov. Charlie Baker offered his condolences to her family and called Rosario one of the state's brightest stars.

"So that's who we lost: a proud Dominican American, a daughter, sister, girlfriend, aunty. A student and a teacher. A caretaker. A United States Marine."

You will NOT be forgotten.