Burlington Man Will Be Remembered At Vigil To Raise Addiction Awareness

BURLINGTON, MA -- The Burlington Police Department and Burlington Overcoming Addiction will hold a candlelight vigil on the Town Common at 6:30 pm on Thursday, September 28. The event will be held in honor of Joe Reardon, a 34-year-old Burlington man who died after a long battle with opioid addiction on December 30.

"Addiction is a disease that impacts every community, and it's something that can only be overcome with a strong support system," Burlington Police Chief Michael Kent said. "I hope that residents will join us to pay our respects to those we've lost to addiction, and to support those still enduring the fight to overcome it."

Reardon was a 2000 graduate of Arlington Catholic High School, where he was captain of the hockey team during his senior year. He grew up in Burlington and attended the Wildwood School and Marshall Simonds Middle School.

Burlington Overcoming Addiction is a program by the Burlington Opioid Outreach Program, which was formed in June. According to the group's Facebook page, include founding a peer-led Recovery Community Center, raising awareness, and reducing stigma towards people in recovery. The group meets every Tuesday at 7 pm at St. Elizabeth's Church (111 Winn St. Burlington).

Next weeks event is open to the public and BOA is inviting people to have their loved ones remembered at the vigil. For more information, contact BOA by emailing Kerry at joemattered@gmail.com.

Image by Burlington Overcoming Addiction.