PHOTOS: Lawrence Honors Slain Marine In Evening Vigil

A U.S. Marine who was among 13 killed in a suicide bombing in Afghanistan was honored Tuesday evening in her hometown.

Officials in Lawrence held a vigil with Sgt. Johanny Rosario Pichardo's family at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

Lawrence Mayor Kendrys Vasquez said Rosario died brining hope to people who needed it.

"We can find comfort knowing that her sacrifice was not in vain — that her smile and bravery are the two wings on which the hopes and dreams of the most vulnerable will fly like eagles from Lawrence to Kabul," he said.

Rosario, 25, died in the Aug. 26 bombing at the Kabul airport, where people were being evacuated amid the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan. A dozen other U.S. service members and 169 Afghans were killed.

Rosario, who was of Dominican origin, served with the Naval Amphibious Force, Task Force 51/5th Marine Expeditionary Brigade.

Gov. Charlie Baker offered his condolences to her family and called Rosario one of the state's brightest stars.

"So that's who we lost: a proud Dominican American, a daughter, sister, girlfriend, aunty. A student and a teacher. A caretaker. A United States Marine."

Dozens attended a separate vigil in Rosario’s memory last weekend in Boston that was hosted by Massachusetts Fallen Heroes, an organization founded by veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Funeral plans for Rosario have not been made public.