Locals to bring an area solider home
By Caitlyn Kelleher JOURNAL REPORTER

A Westminster resident and the town's Republican Town Committee are pairing up with the St. Joseph's Club of Fitchburg to grant one solider his wish before he is shipped out for his third tour in Iraq.

E-5 Sgt. Nick Chirco, a former Fitchburg resident, just wanted to come and visit his childhood home and his friends and family before he is deployed this summer.

"He wanted to come home," Burt Gendron, of Westminster, said. "I went over to St. Joe's and said, 'Whatever you put up, I'll put up'."

Gendron is working to organize celebrations in Fitchburg and Westminster as well as some time with his family.

"It's all coming together," Gendron said. "He'll be with his mother on Mother's Day," he said.

He is scheduled to meet with Fitchburg Mayor Lisa Wong in Fitchburg on Tuesday morning, and then will visit Westminster and meet with Selectman Thomas O'Toole and Police Chief Salvatore Albert.

On Wednesday evening, the club will host a private dinner at Oak Hill Country Club.

The club has always served the community and has been a gathering place for the community, Gendron said.

Chirco, who will celebrate his birthday during the trip, lived in Fitchburg until he was 31. He enlisted in the Army in July 2003, and after training he was deployed for a six-month tour of duty in Korea.

His wife, Doraine, and the three children, Sean, Dominick and Keith remained in the states during his Korean tour.

For the six months, he was stationed in Korea he worked as a track mechanic (63H). In August 2004 he was deployed to Iraq for a year before returning to be stationed at Fort Carlson in Colorado.

In July 2005, after a brief time being stationed in Texas, he was sent back to Iraq for six months.

His military portrait is proudly displayed at the St. Joseph Club where family and friends talk proudly of his effort on behalf of the country, Gendron said.

Some of the awards and honors he has received include CAB, AAMx6, ARCOM, GCM, GWOT, GWEM, KDSM, OSR, AROSR, SVR, Drivers and Mechanics Expert and 38/40 Expert with the m16A3 rifle.

Chirco is expecting to receive his E-6 SSG in the next few months.