BOSTON (AP) – Gov. Deval Patrick joined hundreds of friends, family and well-wishers who gathered in Revere for the funeral of Sgt. Nelson Rodriguez Ramirez.

The 22-year-old Ramirez was among three members of a New York Army National Guard unit based in Geneva who died from wounds suffered when their vehicle was hit by a bomb and small arms fire in Afghanistan.

He was buried Saturday in Woodlawn Cemetery in Everett, following a funeral service at the Immaculate Conception Church in Revere.

Feds: Guard paid to allow trysts in jail

BURLINGTON, Vt. (AP) – A federal grand jury has indicted an Ascutney man on charges that he paid a guard at the Addison County Jail to allow a woman to come to the jail after visiting hours for sex.

Frank Sargent faces three counts of bribery and one count of conspiracy to commit bribery. The U.S. attorney’s office for Vermont said the incidents occurred while he was at the Addison County Jail, which has a contract to house federal prisoners, while awaiting sentencing on a bankruptcy fraud conviction.

Authorities said Sargent was attempting to influence the woman, in hopes she would testify favorably to him at his upcoming sentencing hearing. He ended up being sentenced on the bankruptcy fraud charge to time served while his case was pending.

The indictment alleges Sargent told the woman to bring $300 to each of their meetings so he could pay the guard.

Vt. Guardsmen to get Purple Hearts

WESTMINSTER, Vt. (AP) – Two Vermont National Guard soldiers will be decorated Sunday with Purple Hearts for wounds they suffered in Iraq.

Sgt. Kevin C. Jenkins, of North Springfield and Spc. Nathan M. Johnson of Forest Dale were wounded a week apart last July.

The Purple Heart is awarded to service members wounded by enemy action.

Both Jenkins and Johnson returned to duty after being wounded and they continue to serve with the Guard.

Seventy-five members of the 131st Engineers returned to Vermont last September after almost a year in Iraq where they defused 1,200 improvised explosive devices.

The medals will be awarded in a ceremony on Sunday at 10:30 a.m. the Kurn Hattin School in Westminster.


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