Bridge in Weymouth could soon be named for Sgt. Michael Chesna

Mary Whitfill, The Patriot Ledger

WEYMOUTH – Sgt. Michael Chesna is one step closer to being the namesake of a Weymouth bridge after gaining the support of the Legislature's Joint Committee on Transportation.

Sen. Patrick O'Connor and Rep. James Murphy, both of Weymouth, filed a bill last year asking the state to name the bridge that crosses the Commuter Rail tracks on Weymouth's Main Street after the fallen officer.

The bridge that crosses the Commuter Rail tracks on Weymouth's Main Street could soon be called the Sergeant Michael C. Chesna First Responders Bridge.
The bridge that crosses the Commuter Rail tracks on Weymouth's Main Street could soon be called the Sergeant Michael C. Chesna First Responders Bridge.

On Friday, the bill gained the support of the committee. It will now move on to the Senate, and then the House of Representatives, for approval. It could be passed in an informal session without a roll-call vote.

The bridge would be formally called the Sergeant Michael C. Chesna First Responders Bridge.

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“Sergeant Michael Chesna meant so much to our community. This is one of the many ways residents, family members, and friends will be able to continue to keep Michael Chesna in our hearts and recall all that he sacrificed for his town," Murphy said in a statement.

Chesna died on July 15, 2018, when he was shot by a man running from police. Vera Adams, a 77-year-old widow, was shot to death in her home on Torrey Street moments after Chesna was killed nearby.

Weymouth police Sgt. Michael Chesna and Vera Adams were killed on July 15, 2018.
Weymouth police Sgt. Michael Chesna and Vera Adams were killed on July 15, 2018.

In the years since Chesna's death, the town of Weymouth has held charity events for his family, donated to a memorial fund in his honor, given away scholarships in his name and residents have replaced white light bulbs with blue to mark his memory. The new Chapman Middle School gym has been named in his honor, and a reading room at the new Tufts Library has been named for Adams.

“After discussions with the Chesna family, Rep. Murphy and I filed this legislation so that we can continue to remember Sgt. Chesna and honor all our first responders and their sacrifice," O'Connor said in a statement. "I’m looking forward to working together to pass this legislation to help ensure we never forget."

A push to rename the new Fore River Bridge after Chesna gained the anecdotal support of Gov. Charlie Baker in 2018 but no bill was ever filed.

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Reach Mary Whitfill at mwhitfill@patriotledger.com.

This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Route 18 bridge in Weymouth could soon be named for Sgt. Michael Chesna