Funeral services were held Monday for Gunnery Sergeant Thomas Sullivan, the Marine from Springfield who was killed by a gunman in Chattanooga, Tennessee, earlier this month. Outside the church where the Mass was held, the community continued to show its support for the Sullivan family.
Ninety minutes before the Mass was scheduled to start, onlookers filled the sidewalks around Holy Cross Church in Springfield’s East Forest Park neighborhood, where Sullivan grew up. So did Nancy Keys. She stands across the street the church.
“We made our first communions and our confirmations here as well as Tommy,” Keys said. “To be across the street from our own parish and to have this going on, just is bittersweet. We feel like we’re bringing Tommy home.”
Soon the hearse arrives carrying the remains of the man referred to by many as simply “Tommy.” Marines in dress uniforms carry the flag-draped casket into the simple, red brick church in this residential neighborhood–the place where Sullivan was baptized and was an alter server. While the Mass was private, loudspeakers were set up outside, allowing the crowd lining the streets a chance to hear the service. Bishop Mitchell Rozanski offered the homily.
“The outpouring of support that has come from our nation, from the people of Springfield, from Massachusetts and our local Western Massachusetts area has shown us how much Tommy’s life and his fellow servicemen’s lives mean to all of us who benefit from their ultimate sacrifice,” Rozanski said.
Sullivan’s sister, Dianne Caron, said her brother was always excited to talk about his latest military accomplishments. She said his family always reminded him to be careful wherever duty would take him.
“He told us, though, his job was to keep us safe and to bring home his Marines,” Caron said. “He could never guarantee his own safety, so to us, this really isn’t a surprise.”
Sullivan’s last commanding officer, Captain Chris Cotton, said he had a sense of humor, was loyal to his family and proud to be from Springfield. Cotton said Sullivan was also a Marine others could look up to.
“He spent many years in artillery,” Cotton said. “He was an exceptional recruiter, a combat veteran, he received two Purple Hearts for his injuries sustained while in combat. He was battle tested and he was battle proven.”
Following the Mass, the funeral precession reassembled, this time with dozens of bikers from the Patriot Guard leading the way, as Gunnery Sergeant Thomas Sullivan -- son, uncle, Marine, Tommy -- left East Forest Park one last time.
This report was originally published at NEPR.net.