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Bridge naming recognizes World War II leader of ‘Merrill’s Marauders’

FILE PHOTO/JOHN CARDILLO

The Fruit Street Bridge will be known as the Major General Frank D. Merrill memorial bridge following legislation signed into law by Gov. Maura Healey earlier this month.

Bill H.3608 recognizes the name designation and directs the Massachusetts Department of Transportation to “erect and maintain suitable markers on the bridge bearing the designation.” It officially was signed into law by the governor on Oct. 14 after passing the Massachusetts House and Senate on Oct. 8. According to state Rep. James Arena-DeRosa, who filed the bill, a ceremony to mark the bridge’s naming is forthcoming.

“We’re thinking maybe we can do something as we get close to Memorial Day,” said Arena-DeRosa. “We want to make sure that it’s not … done when people are not paying attention.”

The bridge is named in honor of Merrill, who was born in Hopkinton in 1903 and moved away when he was a young child, according to Hopkinton Historical Society president Anne Mattina. She said he was born on Wood Street.

“His [military] career was cinematic,” Mattina remarked.

According to Wikipedia, Merrill was a West Point graduate who commanded a volunteer United States Army special forces unit dubbed “Merrill’s Marauders.” The unit operated in Burma to combat the Japanese. It specialized in long-range penetration missions where its soldiers often were outnumbered. Overall, Merrill’s Marauders fought in five major engagements and fought the Japanese on 32 separate occasions.

“He and his unit had gone through so much,” said Mattina. “It’s amazing.”

Tom Griffin, a retired Hopkinton Police officer who advocated for the bridge naming, agreed. “He’s an incredible person,” Griffin said of Merrill. “He went against all odds.”

Griffin was inspired to advocate for the bridge designation after noticing a bridge in New Hampshire dedicated to Merrill’s Marauders. After discovering Merrill had Hopkinton connections and finding nothing in town had been dedicated to the major general, Griffin advocated for naming the Fruit Street bridge.

“I worked on the bridge,” Griffin said, explaining he was a detail officer for the construction project. “I knew there was no name on it.”

After getting buy-in from the Select Board and figuring out the name designation required legislative support, Griffin worked with Arena-DeRosa to get the bill through the State House.

“It makes me feel good [Merrill]’s going to be recognized now,” said Griffin. “People will hear the name now and it won’t be forgotten. Hopefully people will look him up and realize what he did.”

— NICK SCHOFIELD

Latest News

Golden Pond Assisted Living has been barred from accepting new admissions until it resolves deficiencies observed by state officials.

No injuries were reported after a gymnastics bus caught fire in the parking lot of The Learning Center on Friday morning.

Robert Fayard, 91, died Oct. 19. He worked for the Hopkinton Police Department as a detail officer and was involved with the Congregational Church in Hopkinton.

MassDOT has scheduled ramp closures at the I-90/I-495 interchange in Hopkinton for Wednesday night, along with traffic realignment on I-495 northbound.

Town meetings tonight include Special Town Meeting (7).

Photo of the Day

Firefighter/paramedic Josiah Campbell assists a child with using a fire hose during the Hopkinton Fire Department’s open house on Sunday at its Main Street headquarters. Click here for more photos.

PHOTO/NICK SCHOFIELD