By Jeffrey Epstein and Julie McCay Turner
Two young soldiers from Bedford were remembered Friday when more than 250 people gathered to dedicate the Route 225 bridge in their honor. Army Private First Class John D. Hart and Marine Lance Corporal Travis R. Desiato were killed in Iraq within 13 months of each other, Hart in October 2003 and Desiato in November 2004. Each man enlisted soon after graduating from Bedford High School.
Governor Charlie Baker, Congressman Seth Moulton, State Senator Mike Barrett, State Representative Ken Gordon, town officials, various dignitaries, and Veterans joined townspeople, friends, and family members for the ceremony at the Bedford boat landing on the Concord River.
Images in the following gallery are (c) Barbara Purchia, 2018 all rights reserved – Click twice in each to see it at full size
In his remarks, Rep. Gordon thanked the Desiato and Hart families: “Losing your son is unimaginable and it is personal, but allowing us to show how much their sacrifice means to us, gives us solace,” he said.
Gov. Baker said he makes a point to attend such ceremonies because he knows from experience how important it is to families that their loved ones be remembered and honored.
An Iraq veteran himself, Rep. Moulton pointed out that soldiers do not go to war hoping to have bridges named after them. So, he said, it is up to those who remember to honor their sacrifice.
Like many such ceremonies, there was much solemn pomp — the national anthem, the playing of TAPS, salutes by honor guards representing the Bedford Minuteman Company, Bedford’s Police and Fire Departments, and Hanscom Air Force Base.
The father of each soldier spoke, reminding the audience how important such a tribute to John Hart and Travis Desiato is to the Bedford community, and also how deeply personal it is to each family.
The families stood together with replicas of the new signs that the Bedford DPW had installed at either end of the bridge during the ceremony. And waving proudly from the newly-named Hart-Desiato Bridge, an enormous American flag billowed in the late afternoon breeze.