By Alex Cornacchia, Contributing Writer
Northborough – A harvest celebration was held at Davidian Bros. Farm Oct. 26 in honor of Army Specialist Brian K. Arsenault, a soldier from Northborough who was killed in action in Ghazni, Afghanistan, Sept. 4.
It was a brisk and overcast day, but hundreds of people – family, friends, those who knew Brian well, and those who simply wanted to honor him – all gathered beneath white tents and in surrounding fields to show their support.
There were kids in camouflage, people wearing red dog tags, and dozens of Brian’s family members and close friends in gray t-shirts bearing the name of Brian’s army unit. A poster adorning the entrance to the tents lauded Brian as a true American hero, while a more intimate photo collage inside the tents showed him with family and friends.
Food and festivities were abundant, with a barbecue, pumpkin painting, balloon animals and a raffle.
Daniel Arsenault, Brian’s father, explained that the event was meant as a way to showcase a different aspect of his son.
“He had his artistic, quiet side,” he said. “He’d probably like to share that.”
The Arsenault family also paid tribute to Brian by donating all of the funds raised from the harvest celebration to The Wounded Warrior Project, an organization that raises awareness and provides services to injured service members.