By Charles Sennott, Globe staff

SWAMPSCOTT -- Memorial Day observances here yesterday were marked not only by flags among the weathered granite headstones for fallen heroes from wars past, but also by the unveiling of a new square named in honor of a native daughter of this North Shore town who lost her life in Iraq in February.

At the intersection of Essex Street and Stetson Avenue, hundreds of residents gathered quietly to observe the life and the sacrifice of Marine Capt. Jennifer J. Harris, 28, a pilot killed in Iraq Feb. 7 when her Sea Knight helicopter transporting blood supplies to wounded, front-line troops was taken down by insurgents.

Her father, Raymond Harris, 63, lifted a black veil to reveal the new bronze plaque with a gold star that reads: "Captain Jennifer J. Harris Square."

His wife Rosalie by his side, Raymond wept as he placed a wreath of red and white carnations with patriotic bunting on the signpost that bears the name of their daughter, and their only child.

The square's location was chosen by town officials because it is just down the street from a square dedicated on Veterans' Day in November to Swampscott's other fallen hero from the Iraq war, Army Specialist Jared J. Raymond, 20, who was killed by a roadside bomb last year and also honored during ceremonies yesterday.

Harris, 28, was the second female Marine officer to die in combat in Iraq and the first female service member from Massachusetts to die in combat since the war in Vietnam. She belonged to Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 364, nicknamed "The Purple Foxes," based out of Camp Pendleton, Calif.

Her father and several cousins and uncles wore tan T-shirts bearing the squadron's insignia and a remembrance? of "The Dove," the radio monicker Jennifer used as a pilot on missions. Her father also wore a blue baseball cap emblazoned with "The Purple Foxes," its brim pulled low over eyes turned red from crying.

Surrounded by neighbors and friends who offered hugs and somber handshakes, Raymond Harris, a retired General Electric worker, told a Globe reporter, "She was everything to us."

Posted by the Boston Globe City & Region Desk at 10:35 PM
http://www.boston.com/news/globe/city_region/breaking_news/2007/05/swampscott_name.html