MacPherson, a US Army Ranger, 26, was killed in action Oct. 12 during combat operations in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. He was assigned to Company D, 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington. MacPherson was killed by direct fire from enemy forces during a heavy firefight while conducting combat operations in Ghazni Province, Afghanistan.
A native of Long Beach, Calif., he enlisted in the U.S. Army in May 2007. For more than four years, MacPherson served as a mortarman and a Ranger Team Leader with 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment.
Fifth District Councilmember Gerrie Schipske and the Long Beach Rosie the Riveter Foundation are participating in the nationwide Wreaths Across America ceremony by laying wreaths in memory of our fallen heroes and to honor those who serve. This will be the third year the ceremony has taken place at the park. Thousands of Christmas wreaths will be placed simultaneously on the graves of the women and men who gave their lives in service of our country at Arlington and nationwide. The wreath-laying ceremony is a project of Wreaths Across America.
Pastor Chris Lankford, the MacPhersons’ family pastor of the Long Beach Alliance Church, will offer the invocation.
For more information, call (562) 570-6932 or email district5@longbeach.gov .
