Cpl. Tim Gibson Remembered for Having a Spirit That Lives On

Marine Cpl. Timothy Gibson and longtime Merrimack volunteer Arthur "Pete" Gagnon received very fitting tributes on Saturday night at the first ever Merrimack Rocks event in Watson Park.

Gibson was killed serving the country when the helicopter he was flying in crashed in Iraq in 2005. Gibson's family and friends were on hand for the event, which filled the park with hundreds of people who came out for various aspects of the evening. A plaque was given to Gibson's parents, Tom and Elaine, and his brothers Tom and Patrick, recognizing Gibson for the sacrifice he made, one this community will never forget.

Elaine Gibson said earlier in the evening that the family was very touched by the gesture, especially given that the bridge over Exit 11 on the FE Everett Turnpike and the softball field behind the American Legion have both been named in his honor.

But event organizer Dave McCray said it was a fitting tribute to and that he doesn't want people to forget what Gibson gave.

"I think it's a testament that we are here tonight to not only honor and cherish and respect the ultimate sacrifice that he gave to this country but also to celebrate and honor the memory that is Tim Gibson," Town Councilor Bill Boyd said Saturday night.

[Watch above Gibson's high school football coach Mike Lochman and friend Jake Gallagher give tribute to the Merrimack resident.]

Gibson's high school football coach Mike Lochman and a longtime friend, Jake Gallagher, gave tribute to Gibson's personality and spirit and how the Marines had built him into a better young man than he already was. One who Gallagher said showed him the true meaning of the words honor, courage and commitment.

"I saw those words personified in his actions and his spirit and he just made it seem like he was the proudest Marine that I'd ever met and at the time the only Marine I'd ever met... " Gallagher said. "He inspired me to be a better person and he continues to inspire me every single day."

“I could talk about his leadership ability and how he could put a team of people on his back and get them going in the right direction and give them the same confidence and the same level of experience that he had, and make everyone around him better," Lochman said. "I could talk about his resilience and how tough he was and how he knew that competition would bring out the best in him and others around him. I could talk about his personality, his sense of humor that he perfectly balanced with his intensity and his seriousness. And how to draw on one or the other at the appropriate time. But really what it comes down to is Tim's spirit.”

Merrimack Rocks capped off a day of celebrating a way of life in a vibrant community. The first part of the day included the Fall Festival and Business Expo, which was an opportunity for local businesses and crafters to showcase to the community the wonderful things happening in Merrimack and surrounding communities.

Read more and see photos from both events at: Thousands Come Out to Celebrate Merrimack