Torrance to honor fallen South High grad
From Nick Green's report:
The city of Torrance will honor fallen soldier Matthew Ferrara at a ceremony Thursday when his name will be inscribed on Veterans Memorial Wall at City Hall.The public is invited to the event, which begins at 10 a.m. at the corner of Torrance Boulevard and Maple Avenue.
Torrance Boulevard will close from 9:45 to 11 a.m. from Madrona Avenue to Crenshaw Boulevard for the ceremony.
Road closure signs on Torrance Boulevard indicated the event was Friday, but they will be changed to the correct day, officials said.
The 24-year-old Army captain was killed in Afghanistan in November when the foot patrol he was leading was ambushed. Six Afghan soldiers and five others - including 23-year-old Army Spc. Lester Roque, who lived near Carson - of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force died in the attack.
Ferrara was promoted to captain posthumously and buried with full military honors at Rancho Palos Verdes' Green Hills Memorial Park.
The 2001 South High graduate was the third from the school killed in the last 12 months while fighting overseas.
Army Cpl. Joseph Anzack Jr., 20, a 2005 graduate, was killed May 23 after he was captured outside of Baghdad. Army Spc. Micah Gifford, 27, a 1997 graduate, died Dec. 7, 2006, in a bomb blast in Baghdad.
HOW TO HELP
South High School has established a scholarship fund in Ferrara's memory. Send donations to South High School, Activities Office, 4801 Pacific Coast Highway, Torrance, CA 90505.