Proposed Iraq-Afghan memorial to honor two fallen Revere soldiers

REVERE – The names of fallen war on terror veterans Nelson Rodriguez Ramirez and Matthew Stanley will be enshrined on a local memorial planned for a downtown location or, perhaps, near one of Stanley’s beachfront play spots.Stanley’s father, Richard, and city Veterans Services Director Nicholas Bua have discussed ways the city could construct a memorial honoring the Army scout killed in Iraq in December 2006.Discussions on an Iraq-Afghanistan conflict memorial broadened in the wake of Ramirez’ death June 21 in Afghanistan.”We’re just in the talking stages for a memorial. We need to do fundraising. Hopefully within the next two or three weeks we’ll have a better idea of what we plan to do,” Bua said.City Chief Financial Officer George Anzuoni and Ward 5 City Councilor John Powers have also been involved in the memorial discussions.”It’s a small thing to do for families who have given so much,” Powers said.Ramirez’ father and namesake lives in Revere and his mother, Diana, lives in Chelsea while Richard Stanley lives locally and his son’s mother, Lynn Savage, lives in New Hampshire.Both soldiers spent part of their boyhoods in Revere where Stanley enjoyed trips to Kelly’s Roast Beef and Revere Beach. Rodriguez Ramirez attended Revere High School and his sister, Iliana, graduated from Revere High.She said memorial services are planned in August in Niagara Falls, where her brother’s older daughter lives, and in Virginia where his aunt lives.Bua and Chelsea veterans director Francisco Toro are working to ensure Ariana Rodriguez, 4, and her 5-month-old sister, Kiara, receive education benefits associated with their father’s military service.Iliana Rodriguez said family members have discussed starting a foundation to raise money to help pay for the girls’ education.Bua said one suggestion for a memorial focused on erecting one similar to the Vietnam War Memorial located on the American Legion building lawn next to City Hall.Twelve local residents who lost their lives are listed on the Vietnam memorial. Bua said the Stanley and Ramirez tribute would include space to add more names.”Hopefully, we don’t have to add any more,” Bua said.