Town to dedicate rink to fallen soldier
By Joyce Kelly/Daily News staff
GHS
Mon Feb 18, 2008, 10:59 PM EST
FRANKLIN -
The Panthers will surrender the ice tonight to let local dignitaries dedicate Veterans Arena Skating Rink to 29-year-old Staff Sgt. Robert R. Pirelli, a soldier killed in Iraq and one-time Franklin High hockey player.
Gov. Deval Patrick signed a bill Friday to rename the facility the Robert R. Pirelli Veterans Memorial Rink, and officials wanted to honor Pirelli tonight at the Panthers' last home game of the season, said Dick O'Conner, spokesman for state Rep. James Vallee, D-Franklin.
Pirelli, a decorated Green Beret with the 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne), based in Fort Carson, Colo., was killed by enemy fire in the Diyala Province of Iraq on Aug. 15, 2007.
Around 8 p.m., Vallee and Rick Sullivan, deputy commissioner of the Conservation and Recreation Department, will speak briefly and dedicate the arena to Pirelli. State Sen. Scott Brown, R-Wrentham, Sen. Karen Spilka, D-Ashland, and Pirelli's parents, Nancy and Robert Pirelli, will also be on hand.
Pirelli, a 1996 Franklin High graduate, was one of two seniors to win a Booster Club scholarship, and graduated from Northeastern University with a degree in criminal justice.
"He grew up playing hockey and was on the varsity hockey team. He was an avid hockey player, and his dad was a hockey coach. He was an amazing guy, quite a young man," O'Conner said.
Pirelli joined the Army in December 2003.
He earned two Good Conduct Medals, a National Defense Service Medal, an Iraq Campaign Medal, a Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, a Non-commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, an Army Service Ribbon, an Overseas Service Ribbon, a Combat Infantry Badge, a Parachutist Badge, and a Special Forces Badge.
Joyce Kelly can be reached at 508-634-7582 or
jkelly@cnc.com.
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