Edward L. Killion

Edward Killion's BC Veterans Memorial Page

  Edward Killion was born January 7, 1895, in Malden, Massachusetts. He was the son of Thomas H. Killion  Hannah E. Murphy, who were married in Malden in 1879, and raised 6 children there. Thomas died in 1899, when Edward was just 4 years old.
  Edward graduated from Boston College in 1916, and registered for the WWI draft from New York City.  He died of disease on December 7, 1918 at Base Hospital No. 8, Montfaucon, France, one month before his 24th birthday. He had attained the rank of Captain.

The Boston Daily Globe of September 29, 1920, included this article:

MALDEN, Sept. 28 - The body of Capt. Edward L. Killion, who died in France a year ago, has not left New York because of a mixup, the War Department notified his mother, Mrs Hannah L. Killion of Russell st, today. Plans for the funeral tomorrow have been cancelled.
The body of Capt. Killion, one of three brothers who were officers during the World War, is the first body of a Malden soldier to be brought from France. Plans had been made for the body to lie in state at the armory tonight. Flags on public buildings had been placed at half-staff. When the body arrives from New York funeral plans will be announced.

  He was finally buried October 2, 1920, at St. Mary's Cemetery, where his father had also been buried. 

Boston Evening Globe, Oct. 2, 1920

Military Honors For Malden Soldier
Brother Celebrant at Capt. Killion's Requiem Mass

MALDEN, Oct. 2 - Military honors were paid today to the memory of Capt Edward L. Killion, the first Malden soldier to be brought home from France for burial here. The services were held in the Church of the Immaculate Conception, where a high mass of requiem was celebrated by Rev. Fr. John E. Killion of St. Francis de Sales' Church, Roxbury, brother of the departed.
The church was filled with relatives and friends of the dead soldier, ex-service men, representatives of the City Government and former Malden High athletes. There was a large delegation from Malden Post, American Legion, of which Commander William H. Doyle was in charge. The cortege proceeded from the church to St. Mary's Cemetery were the body was buried. The coffin was draped with a large American flag. There was a profusion of floral tributes.
Capt. Killion was a former Malden High star football player, and later played at the Catholic University at Washington. He was one of three brothers who were officers in the service during the World War.