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Community Corner

Fallen Soldier's Family Remembers Their Hero

Lance Corporal Andrew J. Zabierek's family plans to spend the anniversary of Sept. 11 helping to brighten the lives of soldiers overseas.

September 11, 2001 was a day of tragedy and heroics for people across the country, but for one local man, it was a day of decisions.

After having dinner with his parents that night, Andrew Zabierek announced that he had made a decision to leave his comfortable office job of two years at American Express Financial Advisors and join the Marines.

"He told us that it was his time to serve his country," Zabierek's father Stephen said of that night.

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Although the events of 9/11 were the final push for Zabierek to enlist, his father said that his son had already been researching the decision and followed several family members into military service. Three uncles, both grandfathers, and his father served and his younger brother was already attending the Air Force Academy at the time.

Zabierek enlisted and was eventually deployed as a lance corporal to Iraq in March of 2004 after completing his training. His time in the country came to a tragic end just two months later in the Al Anbar province by a hostile attack. He passed away from his injuries on May 21, just two weeks shy of his 26th birthday.

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For his service and sacrifice, Zabierek was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart and honored by Chelmsford with the Guardian Award in May of 2007. Additionally, he was awarded the Medal of Valor by the Chelmsford Elks in June of 2008.

Zabierek's father said that the approaching anniversary of 9/11 does not bother the family, although they were glad to hear of the death of , a mastermind in the terrorism plot.

"We were relieved when we heard that the Navy Seals assassinated Bin Laden," said the elder Zabierek, "because he instigated the attacks on 9/11 which tipped the scale for Andrew's decision to sacrifice his life for his country."

The Zabierek family will join millions of Americans in volunteering on the anniversary of the attacks which has been designated a National Day of Service and Remembrance. Zabierek and his wife Judy will spend the day at the Rose Kennedy Walkway packing  boxes for troops overseas with the Massachusetts Military Heroes Fund.

To remember their loved one and help local veterans live full lives, the Zabierek family and local community members began the Andrew J. Zabierek Foundation in 2004. The non-profit organization aims to award veterans for their service and assist them in reassimilating to civilian life with scholarship money to pursue undergraduate degrees. The foundation also works to recognize students who take part in community service.

Since 2005, the Zabierek Foundation has helped 18 veterans and service-minded high school students attend colleges and universities and has supported both The Fisher House in Boston and the Wounded Warrior Project.

"Andrew's Foundation has done what it is designed to do," said Zabierek of the scholarships and donations funded. "We hope to give more to veterans and veterans causes."

For more information about the Andrew J. Zabierek Foundation including how to donate, visit their Web site.

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