Sgt. Johanny Rosario Pichardo was a United States Marine Corps. member. On August 26th, 2021, Sgt. Johanny Rosario Pichardo was helping evacuate women and children from the Kabul Airport in Afghanistan when a bomb detonated. Over 150 Afghans were killed along with 13 U.S. Service Members. She was able to help over 124,000 people to safely evacuate Afghanistan as a part of her role. Her efforts posthumously awarded her the Purple Heart and Congressional Gold Medal.

 

Sgt. Johanny Rosario Pichardo was born and raised in Lawrence. She was active in the community. She volunteered at a local soup kitchen, was a cheerleader for Lawrence High School, and involved in JROTC. Sgt. Johanny Rosario Pichardo's death was premature, but she was able to give so much to her community and her nation in such a short time. The Merrimack Valley Community Service Corps proposed a mural project to continue to tell her story and the amazing woman she was. In partnership with The City of Lawrence Mayor's Office, The City of Lawrence Department of Health and Human Services, The City of Lawrence Veteran's Service Office, the City of Lawrence Parks and Recreation Department, and Northeast Digital Imaging a mural will be created so that generations of Lawrencians will know who Sgt. Johanny Rosario Pichardo was. The mural will be installed at Lawrence Veterans Memorial Stadium. This project is led by an AmeriCorps Senior RSVP volunteer who will be the lead artist of the project.

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This project is supported in part by a grant from the Lawrence Cultural Council, a local agency that is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.