Northborough mourns fallen soldier

Dan Fishbein, Editorial Board
September 20, 2014

Hundreds attended the funeral of Sargent Brian K. Arsenault this past Tuesday at St. Rose of Lima Church, as Northborough and surrounding communities mourned their fallen soldier.
Arsenault, a U.S. Army paratrooper, was killed on September 4 in combat near Ghazni, Afganistan, at around 9 pm, according to family and the Department of Defense. Arsenault served in the 82nd Airborne Division and was a grenadier with B Company, First Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, First Brigade Combat Team. His tour was scheduled to end in November.
Arsenault’s family requested that the funeral remain private, but crowds lined Main St. to stand in memorial.
“I’m so grateful for his sacrifice,” Scott Mitchell, a local resident who stood on Main St. for the funeral service, told the Boston Globe. “That’s why I’m here.”
Arsenault graduated from Algonquin in 2004. He played both baseball and hockey, but also stood out in the classroom. His teachers noted his dedication to academics, as well as his tenacious spirit.
An announcement was made the day after his death, and the school has also acknowledged Arsenault’s passing by lowering flags to half mast and holding several moments of silence. Arsenault was the first Algonquin graduate to be killed in combat since the Vietnam War.
Arsenault’s awards and decorations include the Purple Heart Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and the NATO Medal.
“We have suffered a great loss . . . and express our deepest condolences,”  Lieutenant Colonel Chris Hockenberry, Arsenault’s battalion commander, said in a prepared statement. “Specialist Arsenault was an exceptional paratrooper and a valued member of our team.”
Editor’s Note: For a more in-depth article on Brian Arsenault, see our print Issue 1, out in October.