Eastham to Honor Fallen Hero with Bridge Naming

EASTHAM – A bridge in Eastham will be named after the first soldier from Cape Cod to be killed after September 11, 2001.

Sgt. Mark Vecchione, an Eastham native, was killed when his Army tank was hit by an IED in Iraq in 2006.

Eastham Selectmen voted to name the Bridge Street Bridge in his honor after the town was petitioned by Bridges for the Fallen.

Rob Mador with Bridges for the Fallen said they wanted to make sure Vecchione was honored.

“I think a bridge is very fitting way for people to have a place to go to and remember Mark and his sacrifice,” Mador said.

Mador said bridge ceremonies can be a galvanizing event for the community and, more importantly, for the family of the fallen.

“Most often these bridge ceremonies that we do are the first opportunity for a family to celebrate the life of their fallen loved one as opposed to grieving,” he said. “So it’s a big step in the healing process. The bridge is really metaphorical where this is really an important step to get over trouble waters so to speak.”

Mador said the ceremonies also mean a lot to other gold star families to make sure these soldiers are recognized, along with the soldier’s comrades.

Bridges for the Fallen petitioned the board of selectmen, town manager and the town because this particular bridge was town owned, which can be an easier process than getting a state bridge named.

Mador said there is no obstacle that Bridges for the Fallen will try to avoid.

“When a gold star family comes to Bridges for the Fallen and says ‘we want a bridge’ we tell them that we are going to get the bridge,” he said.

The dedication ceremony will be held on September 3 at 10 a.m.

By BRIAN MERCHANT, CapeCod.com NewsCenter