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VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — A funeral was held Monday for Louise Mulligan, 93, a Lawrence, Mass., native who develop into an outspoken advocate prisoners of struggle in Vietnam, together with her husband, Navy Capt. James Mulligan.
Louise was born on July 1, 1929 in Lawrence, the daughter of the late Adam Kolce and Ethel Sankey, based on her obituary.
Religious Catholics, Louise and James first met at a dance within the parish middle at St. Patrick’s Church in Lawrence.
They married and had six boys.
A Naval aviator, James Mulligan, now 96, was held captive for seven years after he was shot down in Vietnam on March 20, 1966. Mulligan was on a mission to assault enemy provide traces in his A-4C Skyhawk.
Whereas he was held as a prisoner of struggle, Louise was instrumental in forming a nationwide motion to collect extra info on all of the POWs and advocated for his or her security and launch.
The couple was most just lately residents of Virginia Seashore. A number of Lawrence officers flew there in mid-Might to current each James and Louise with resolutions, awards and items.
Then, earlier this month, metropolis councilors voted to call the nook of South Union and Farnham streets after Louise Mulligan. The transfer “overwhelmed” her, stated Metropolis Council President Marc Laplante.
“She was our metropolis’s treasure that we shared with the nation,” Laplante stated.
In her obituary, Louise Mulligan is described as an “outspoken chief of the League of Wives as she fought the nationwide authorities and army hierarchy on behalf of the imprisoned and lacking members of the family. Her public efforts gained her nationwide respect from political, army and media leaders alike.”
Laplante stated he was grateful metropolis officers have been in a position to go to and honor Louise previous to her demise.
“It wasn’t till just lately that we totally discovered of Louise’s contribution to our nationwide dialog on the Vietnam POW/MIAs. She was born and raised in Lawrence, however in the course of the peak of the Vietnam Conflict, her voice resonated via the Washington D.C. energy corridors and all through our nation.” he stated. “Whereas she was a faithful and devoted spouse and mom, she was unwittingly thrust to be a voice and champion of our army males who have been captured, tortured or lacking in the course of the struggle. I’m glad that her house metropolis had the chance to formally acknowledge her story and I’m particularly grateful for the time that I spent together with her in Might.”
“My condolences to Captain Mulligan and the household as they work via their grief,” Laplante stated.
Louise died peacefully at house on July 18.
Her funeral, a Mass of Christian burial, was held Monday at Star of the Sea Catholic Church in Virginia Seashore.
Comply with workers reporter Jill Harmacinski on Twitter @EagleTribJill.
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