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Vigil Held For Mass. Fallen Heroes On Anniversary Of 9/11

BOSTON (CBS) -- Friends and family members of fallen Massachusetts heroes gathered on the 15th anniversary of 9/11 to honor their loved ones.

Joseph Kelly's son, Sgt. Michael Kelly, decided to join the Massachusetts Army National Guard right after 9/11.

"It's been 11 years since he's been gone, and it seemed like yesterday," Joseph Kelly said. "He was in Afghanistan 69 days and was killed in an enemy attack."

Sgt. Kelly was the third oldest of four and was just 26-years-old.

"As far as Memorial Day goes and all that sort of thing, everyday is Memorial Day for us," said Kelly. "There isn't a day that goes by that we don't think of him and what he stood for. In our eyes, we're proud of him, he's a hero."

The Kelly family joined dozens of other Gold Star Families from the Massachusetts Fallen Heroes organization and Chapel of Our Lady of Good Voyage Parishioners for Mass. They walked from church to hold a candlelight vigil at Boston's Seaport District.

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A mass of remembrance was held at Chapel of Our Lady of Good Voyage. (WBZ)

 

"It was very moving, it was beautiful," said Sgt. Kelly's sister, Colleen Dugan.

"We live every day not having our brother here and reflecting and glad for the freedoms," Dugan said. "It makes you really appreciate everything you have in life and the beautiful country that we live in."

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