By Beth David, Editor
Members of the Fairhaven Fire Department, Police Department, veterans, residents and town officials lined the Main Street overpass over Route 195 to honor Fall River resident Sergeant First Class William Burdick as his casket is escorted to the National Cemetery in Bourne for interment on Friday, 6/3/22.
Approximately 30 people lined the sidewalk, most of them holding and waving flags. The Fire Department hung the large flag off the ladder truck and placed it over the fence. Firefighters stood on top of the truck.
Firefighters, police, and veterans all stood at attention as the caravan passed underneath.
Sgt. Burdick, 37, was an active-duty serviceman with the U.S. Army and the Mass. National Guard. He served in Afghanistan in 2011 under Operation Enduring Freedom as well as in Kosovo in 2018 under Operation Joint Guardian.
Fairhaven Select Board member Leon Correy attended the visibility on the overpass.
“I feel like it’s one of my duties as a citizen and a public servant,” said Mr. Correy. “First, to pay my respects to people who fought for this country, fought for us to be here.”
Sgt. Burdick passed away on 5/20/22 at St. Luke’s Hospital. No cause of death was released.
He is survived by his wife, Cassandra Cusick (Ryan), four brothers, and a large extended family.
“In lieu of flowers we ask that you consider making a donation to one of the many reputable organizations dedicated to military suicide prevention,” reads his obituary. “Sadly, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs’ National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report (2019), the suicide rate among Veterans is 1.5 times greater than the non-Veteran population. Two such organizations are Mission 22 and the Military Friends Foundation.”
Arrangements were by Manual Rogers Funeral Home: www.rogersfuneral.com
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