Bridge renamed in honor of Arredondo sons
Victoria Foley said the worst day of her life was when she learned her eldest son, Marine Lance Cpl. Alexander Arredondo, had been killed in combat in Iraq.
Then her middle son, Brian Arredondo, took his own life — the next worst day of her life.
Alexander Arredondo was killed by a sniper on Aug. 25, 2004. Brian Arredondo committed suicide in 2011. Both were honored yesterday as the Jamaica Way Bridge in Jamaica Plain was renamed the Lance Corporal Alexander Arredondo & Brian Arredondo Memorial Bridge, in a ceremony attended by Gov. Charlie Baker.
The late Arredondo brothers are the sons of Foley and Boston Marathon bombing hero Carlos Arredondo.
“Their deaths have left a hole in my life,” Foley said. “When we lost Alex ... it took years to come out of my depression. Brian slowly deteriorated, and I couldn’t save him in the end . ... Brian couldn’t and did not want to be here anymore. I almost died from the grief . ... I was suicidal for years, but I am now on the other side and I am stronger for it.”
Carlos Arredondo said after the ceremony: “I’ve been living in Jamaica Plain; it’s an honor. September is suicide-prevention month; we’re going to continue to work for suicide prevention for Gold Star families.”
Elias Contos, 33, of Norwood, was best friends with Alexander Arredondo.
“For his friends and family, the pain was deep and agonizing,” Contos said yesterday of his pal’s death. “One of the people it hit hardest was his brother, Brian. The way Brian looked up to Alex is something you can only understand if you have your own personal hero.”