Sgt. Landis W. Garrison, 23, of Rapids City, Illinois - died April 29th as a result of an accidental gunshot wound while serving with the Freeport-based 333rd Military Police Unit, of the Illinois National Guard, currently stationed in Iraq.
"I can't remember a day when I didn't see at least a little bit of a smile on Landis' face," said Mike Poel, a close friend of Garrison's and assistant fire chief for the Port Byron Fire Department, where Garrison served as a volunteer firefighter. "Every picture I've got of him, (he's) grinning ear to ear. ... He was the quintessential guy that could take the lemons and make lemonade."
Mr. Silverback: "The story about his funeral was not available online. A Brigadier general who spoke called Garrison a hero three times over because he was a firefighter, a cop and a soldier. He was born to his final rest on the back of a Port Byron fire truck and accorded full honors by his colleagues from all three of his brave vocations."
~