thedrifter
11-12-07, 08:06 AM
Published: November 11, 2007 11:42 pm
Swampscott marines rename detachment for Capt. Jennifer Harris
Cate Lecuyer
LYNN — A ceremony held Saturday night officially renamed the Swampscott-based North Shore Detachment of the Marine Corps League after Jennifer Harris, the helicopter pilot killed in action last February. All the attention, friends say, may have made her uncomfortable.
“I would say she would have been embarrassed, and this is too much,” said Swampscott Veterans Agent Jim Schultz, who knew her well. “She was a remarkable young lady.”
Women from the Junior ROTC at Lynn English High School flanked the aisle at the Franco-American Hall in Lynn as members of Harris’ family — her mother and father, fiance, aunt and uncle, and two close family friends — proceeded to the front of the room for the unveiling of the red and yellow flag and banner declaring the North Shore Detachment as the Capt. Jennifer J. Harris Detachment.
The family was joined by many Marine Corps veterans who stood behind them for a picture. The ceremony preceded the Marine Corps birthday ball in celebration of its 232nd anniversary held this Veterans Day weekend. Harris would have celebrated her 29th birthday today.
Schultz said when appropriate, military divisions are often named after an individual who is considered a hero, or who was killed in action.
“She fits both categories,” he said.
Harris died on her last mission before she was scheduled to return home after her third tour in Iraq. As a pilot with Medium Helicopter Squadron 364, she volunteered one last time to pick up wounded Marines. After getting them safely to a casualty station, she took off again to get a supply of blood, and that’s when her aircraft was shot down.
She will be remembered for that great act, but her heroism has always been a part of who she was, Schultz said. Last December, he and members of the Swampscott Police Department sent her a package while she was overseas.
“In typical Jennifer Harris style, she turns around and sends us a package back,” Schultz said. It was full of T-shirts, American flags and thank-you cards. Her sincerity and generosity, he said, is something he believes she learned from her mother.
After Harris’ funeral, for instance, her mother didn’t waste any time in letting people know how much it meant that so many people attended.
“She probably sent out 500 thank-you cards in record time,” Schultz said. “I can see where [Harris] got it from.”
Ellie
Swampscott marines rename detachment for Capt. Jennifer Harris
Cate Lecuyer
LYNN — A ceremony held Saturday night officially renamed the Swampscott-based North Shore Detachment of the Marine Corps League after Jennifer Harris, the helicopter pilot killed in action last February. All the attention, friends say, may have made her uncomfortable.
“I would say she would have been embarrassed, and this is too much,” said Swampscott Veterans Agent Jim Schultz, who knew her well. “She was a remarkable young lady.”
Women from the Junior ROTC at Lynn English High School flanked the aisle at the Franco-American Hall in Lynn as members of Harris’ family — her mother and father, fiance, aunt and uncle, and two close family friends — proceeded to the front of the room for the unveiling of the red and yellow flag and banner declaring the North Shore Detachment as the Capt. Jennifer J. Harris Detachment.
The family was joined by many Marine Corps veterans who stood behind them for a picture. The ceremony preceded the Marine Corps birthday ball in celebration of its 232nd anniversary held this Veterans Day weekend. Harris would have celebrated her 29th birthday today.
Schultz said when appropriate, military divisions are often named after an individual who is considered a hero, or who was killed in action.
“She fits both categories,” he said.
Harris died on her last mission before she was scheduled to return home after her third tour in Iraq. As a pilot with Medium Helicopter Squadron 364, she volunteered one last time to pick up wounded Marines. After getting them safely to a casualty station, she took off again to get a supply of blood, and that’s when her aircraft was shot down.
She will be remembered for that great act, but her heroism has always been a part of who she was, Schultz said. Last December, he and members of the Swampscott Police Department sent her a package while she was overseas.
“In typical Jennifer Harris style, she turns around and sends us a package back,” Schultz said. It was full of T-shirts, American flags and thank-you cards. Her sincerity and generosity, he said, is something he believes she learned from her mother.
After Harris’ funeral, for instance, her mother didn’t waste any time in letting people know how much it meant that so many people attended.
“She probably sent out 500 thank-you cards in record time,” Schultz said. “I can see where [Harris] got it from.”
Ellie