Chicopee says goodbye to one of its own

Date: 6/30/2009

By G. Michael Dobbs

Managing Editor



CHICOPEE -- Hundreds of people gathered at Holy Name Church Friday morning to attend the funeral of Chicopee native First Sgt. Kevin Dupont.

Dupont was a a 25-year member of the Massachusetts Army National Guard. A resident of Templeton, he was seriously wounded on March 8 while riding in a convoy of vehicles in Afghanistan near the Pakistan border. His Humvee was destroyed in an explosion from an improvised explosive device. Dupont was recovering from his wounds at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas where he died on June 17.

Numerous state and local officials attended the service, including Gov. Deval Patrick.

Father David Darcy said that Dupont "freely gave his life for so many others."

While his death was sad, Darcy reminded those attending that Darcy's life was full of "joy and pride."

Maj. Gen. Joseph C. Carter, the Adjutant General, Massachusetts National Guard, issued the following statement: "The loss of a soldier is a tragedy and we hope the Dupont family finds some consolation in the knowledge that First Sgt. Dupont gave his life while defending our great nation. We express our heartfelt condolences to the family members of First Sgt. Dupont and especially his wife Lisa. He will certainly be missed, but we will not forget his brave service to our nation and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as a citizen-soldier. The entire Massachusetts National Guard family mourns the tragic loss of this loyal patriot."