LYNN — Dozens of people gathered on Maple Street Wednesday evening to honor U.S. Marine Cpl. Andy Jose Martinez is on his final journey home.
Mourners held American flags and wore buttons emblazoned with Martinez’s Marine photo.
“It’s an incredible expression of thanks for this proud Marine’s service and to have his family know they’re not alone and his service is not forgotten,” Mike Sweeney, director of veterans services for the City of Lynn and Town of Swampscott, said. “It’s a true thank you.”
Martinez, 21, died on Dec. 2 while stationed at MCBH Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, where he served as an MV-22B Osprey Avionics Technician.
After his casket landed at Logan Airport late Wednesday afternoon, the hearse traveled to Lynn with a Massachusetts State Police escort. Lynn police, along with the members of the Lynn Fire Department, also joined the procession at Cuffe-McGinn Funeral Home.
Among the attendees honoring Martinez were the Lynn English High School Marine Corps JROTC program members.
“They learn a lot about respecting service that veterans contribute to our nation and the importance of that,” Sgt. Maj. Jose Beato, who leads the program, said. “They’re here honoring one of those veterans.”
Martinez was a 2021 KIPP Academy graduate and one of the top athletes on the Cross Country team, winning the MCSAO championship.
He enlisted in the Marine Corps immediately after graduation.
As a Marine, Martinez was deployed to Darwin, Australia, to train with the Australian Armed Forces.
During his deployment, Martinez was chosen to participate in Talisman Sabre, the largest joint defense exercise between Australia and the United States.
“So far, I’ve gained leadership skills and discipline that no other regular person can gain,” Martinez wrote on his LinkedIn profile last year.
He was also taking online courses toward a degree in computer science from Southern New Hampshire University.
“Eventually, when my enlistment is done, I will transfer to a different college in person to finish my bachelor and switch my major to mechanical engineering,” Martinez wrote.
Gov. Maura Healey ordered that the U.S. and Commonwealth of Massachusetts flags be lowered to half-staff from sunrise Dec. 20 until sunset Dec. 21 at all state buildings in honor of Martinez.
