Members of the James E. Coffey American Legion Post 3, Nashua, attended their annual memorial mass for their post namesake on Sunday morning, 29 May 2016 at St. Louis Church on West Hollis St. Father Daniel St. Laurent said the mass.
PFC James Coffey was the first Nashua soldier killed in World War One. He succumbed to a mustard gas attack and died on May 10, 1918. He is buried in the St. Mihiel American cemetery in France. A marker bearing his name can also be found in the Coffey family plot in the old section of St. Patrick's cemetery in Hudson, NH. The marker is next to his brother William B. Coffey's grave who also fought in France and survived the war.
Pictured in the photo taken outside St. Louis church are L-R, Chaplain Ron Poirier, Junior Vice Commander& Historian Don Vincent, Unit 3 Auxiliary member Kathy Vincent, Commander John York, Unit 3 Auxiliary member Priscille Barbera, Past Commander & Treasurer Barney Barbera, Unit 3 member Barbara Courtemanche, Vice Commander & Service Officer Bob Courtemanche.
