Revere to salute fallen hero today, Saturday

REVERE – Revere salutes fallen former resident Nelson Rodriguez Ramirez and his family today with a police escort and Fire Department salute marking his return to the city where he lived as a teenager.The chartered jet carrying Rodriguez Ramirez’ body is scheduled to land at Logan Airport at 11:28 a.m. escorted by a New York National Guard honor guard.”I believe some will be from his unit,” said Capt. Sean Keegan, an Army casualty assistance officer.The 22-year-old Army sergeant and two comrades from 2nd Squadron, 101st Cavalry based in Buffalo, New York were killed in a roadside attack along with an Army lieutenant colonel last Saturday in Afghanistan.State troopers and Revere and Chelsea police officers will escort Ramirez’ family to Revere. Firefighters will assemble in front of the Broadway fire station and salute as the hearse passes through the city’s center enroute to Vazza Funeral Home.Visiting hours at Vazza’s Beach Street funeral home are from 4-8 p.m. Friday with Ramirez’ funeral planned for noon Saturday at Immaculate Conception Church.Drivers can expect traffic delays, possibly detours, on Beach Street Friday evening and Saturday morning.Mayor Thomas Ambrosino and Veterans Director Nicholas Bua spoke with Ramirez’ father and namesake during the last two days.”They’re in a state of shock,” Bua said, adding that Nelson Rodriguez told him his father, uncles and sister served in the military and his uncles are buried in the national cemetery in Puerto Rico.His son will be buried in the veterans’ plot in Everett’s Woodlawn Cemetery where City Councilor at Large John Correggio and his sisters rededicated the grave of his father and namesake last winter.At the time, Correggio said the rededication was a salute to World War II veterans like his father and to soldiers killed in Iraq and Afghanistan.Bua spoke on Memorial Day with Richard Stanley, father of former Revere resident Matthew Stanley who was killed in December 2006 while patrolling an Iraqi road. They discussed the council’s goal of dedicating a memorial plaque or small park in memory of his son. Stanley hopes it can be located near Kelly’s, one of his son’s favorite local hangouts.”We’re trying to get the veterans organizations together to see what we can do. It would be nice to work on it later this summer,” Bua said.