- January 27th, 2007, 11:14 am
#56386
University honors graduate who 'just wanted to blend in'http://www.wsls.com/servlet/Satellite?p ... !localnews
by Scott Leamon / WSLS NewsChannel 10
Jan 26, 2007
Marine Staff Sergeant Jesse Strong's mother said he came to Liberty University just wanting to "blend in."
Friday evening, Strong's family, friends, former classmates and fellow marines honored him for the main thing about him they say stood out, his character.
Sgt. Strong was awarded a purple heart posthumously for his service and sacrifice in Iraq.
Strong, and three other Virginia marines, including Jonathan Bowling from Stuart, were killed by a rocket-propelled grenade in a roadside attack in Hadithah.
Liberty University chancellor, Dr. Jerry Falwell, along with two of the marines who fought with Strong that day, remembered Strong in a short service at DeMoss Hall.
One of the marines presented Strong's parents, Nate and Vicki Strong, with flowers.
"It's taken this amount of time, two years, for us to sit back and talk about him. Enjoy it. Laugh about it. And cry about it," Vicki Strong said of all the memories of her son she know shares with members of his platoon.
A memorial to Strong can be seen in a display case in DeMoss Hall for at least the next month.
Jesse Strong was a residence hall administrator and active in other areas on campus.
- By ECC29
- By Purple Haize