SWAMPSCOTT — Community members gathered at Swampscott Cemetery on Sunday afternoon to honor the memory of Capt. Jennifer Harris, a marine who died in combat back in 2007.
The Honorable Few Capt. Jennifer Harris Detachment #1302 hosted the event with the aim of memorializing Harris’ impact and legacy, who was killed in Iraq. According to her father, Ray Harris, the whole neighborhood came out to show support for their fallen neighbor.
“A lot of lovely people showed up,” Harris said. “I’ve been through a lot these last few years, but the people have been very good to me. It was just a really great turnout.”
Harris took a moment to reflect on the spark of his daughter’s personality. “She was a wonderful girl; she could’ve been anything that she wanted to be, but she wanted to fly a helicopter, and that’s what she did.”
Judge Advocate with the Honorable Few Harris Detachment Bob Cipriani said the organization is continually working hard to properly preserve Harris’ memory. “One of the things we do is keep scholarships running in her name at Swampscott High School (SHS), where she was a student,” Cipriani said.
Jennifer Harris was a 1996 graduate of SHS. Once she graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 2000, she became a Second Lt. in the United States Marine Corps, according to the Honorable Few website. She was the first female pilot in the Purple Foxes Squadron.
She served as a Casualty Evacuation Pilot, where she flew in and out of combat areas for emergency evacuation of injured marines and Iraqi citizens, during which time she saved countless lives. Harris served three tours of duty in Iraq and was killed in action on Feb. 7, 2007, when her helicopter was shot down by enemy fire.
Cipriani added that, since 2008, the organization has hosted an annual motorcycle ride to raise money to support the scholarships for local students in Harris’ name. The organization also has yearly events like golf and cornhole tournaments, which has helped them be able to award scholarships up to $6,000, according to its website.
