2LT Martin P Murray, RIP

April 13, 2011 by DickH Posted in History, Lowell 6 Comments

Earlier tonight my news feed brought a story about the recent identification of the remains of the twelve man crew of a B-24 Liberator that crashed in the Pacific in 1943. The co-pilot of the aircraft was 21-year old 2LT Martin P Murray of Lowell, Massachusetts. It turns out that Lieutenant Murray has finally returned to Lowell, for his funeral will be held this Saturday from the McDonough Funeral Home. While the service is private, the public is invited to attend his graveside ceremony at St Patrick’s Cemetery. The following (and the photo above) is from the McDonough Funeral Home website:

AT THE FAMILY’S REQUEST, 2ND LT. MURRAY’S CALLING HOURS AND FUNERAL SERVICE WILL BE HELD PRIVATELY ON SATURDAY APRIL 16 AT THE MCDONOUGH FUNERAL HOME, 14 HIGHLAND STREET, LOWELL 978-458-6816. YOU ARE INVITED TO JOIN THE FAMILY FOR HIS BURIAL WITH FULL MILITARY HONORS INCLUDING A MILITARY AIRCRAFT FLYOVER AT ST. PATRICK CEMETERY BETWEEN 10:15 AND 11 A.M.. PLEASE VISIT US AT MCDONOUGHFUNERALHOME.COM TO SEND THE FAMILY AN E-CONDOLENCE AT ANY TIME.

6 Responses to 2LT Martin P Murray, RIP

  2. John Quealey says:

    Lt. Murray was from Swede Village in Sacred Heart Parish even though I did not know Him I new the family well as they were active in our parish.
    His sister Eleanor left a sum of money to Sacred Heart and part of the bequest was used to buy a snowplow named after her with “Eleanor” printed on the hood of the truck.

  4. Marie says:

    More on the Saturday graveside service here from the Boston Golobe MetroDesk::
    “Private services will be held Saturday at the funeral home. Burial will follow at 10:15 a.m. at Patrick’s Cemetery, and will be open to the public. At the ceremony, an Army representative will talk about Murray’s life and how his body was found. A Catholic priest will say a prayer and taps will be played, followed by the flyover and rifle salute, McDonough said.”
    Read the full Globe article here: http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2011/04/after_67_years.html

  5. Kevin says:

    There is a monument in front of the Edson Cemetary bearing his name. The monument originally was located at the V of Gorham Street and Carlisle Street, howver, was moved in the 1980’s after it had been hit several times.