Soldier with local ties honored at Sunset Cemetery Memorial Day event

Pulaski County Daily News ^ | 5/30/2011 | Darrell Todd Maurina

[darrellmaurina]

WAYNESVILLE, Mo. (May 30, 2011) — Speaking before representatives of nearly four dozen community organizations at Sunset Memorial Cemetery, Col. Charles Williams said that although his home is in New Jersey, he’s glad to call Pulaski County home because of its support for the military. Williams, the Fort Leonard Wood garrison commander, said he tries to convey that message “every time I get the opportunity to speak.” Williams said the “toughest job” military personnel ever have to do is to present an American flag to the parents of spouse of a fallen servicemember, citing the recent death in Afghanistan of Spc. Bradley Melton as an example. Melton grew up south of Fort Leonard Wood and has family members living in Rolla; he was killed earlier this month by an improvised explosive device while serving as part of a route clearance team in Afghanistan. “He was on his third deployment as a combat engineer, having been twice deployed before to Iraq,” Williams said. “There are roughly 300 million Americans today and only a very few, less than 1 percent, have the courage and intestinal fortitude and patriotism to be a soldier, sailor, airman or Marine, especially during a time of war. Spc. Melton was one of the few, and that itself should make you very proud.”