Stoughton Community Hangs Ribbons Around Town To Honor Students

STOUGHTON, MA — Over a dozen people from the Stoughton community joined Linda Rinaldi, Michael Silva, and other volunteers to hang ribbons across town to honor Chris Desir, Eryck Sarblah, Nick Joyce, and David Bell, the four Stoughton High School students that died in a car crash in East Bridgewater.

Everyone met at the Michael Sammarco Baseball Field over at Drake Avenue. Rinaldi said, "eight car loads packed to the gills" showed up to help today.

People were split into groups to cover different parts of Stoughton including the families' houses, the police station, fire station, town hall, and areas as far up as Washington Street towards Canton.

While with Rinaldi's group, they went to the police station as well as Bell's family's home. Bell's mother did not comment, but allowed a photograph of the ribbon that was hung at her house.

While assisting Rinaldi with hanging bows and black sashes at the police station, Police Chief Donna McNamara said that it's been a "trying time" for Stoughton, but she's happy the community is coming together to help the families.

McNamara said, "I just love seeing the town come together. That's the greatest part of the community."

One person who volunteered just got back to Stoughton yesterday and was already at the fire station hanging up ribbons. Anthony Castillo is an active member of the United States Navy. He was stationed in Seattle and happened to be flying back yesterday.

Castillo said his little brother was best friends with two of the students and called him as soon as he found out. Even though he just got back to town yesterday, Castillo said he wanted to help because he considers Stoughton to be family.

Castillo said, "Even though I've been gone, even if I don't know them, we're still a family."