Remembering Snellville's fallen warriors

Army Staff Sgt. Phillip L. Travis

Age 41, of Snellville, Ga.; Phillip Travis was assigned to the 148th Forward Support Battalion, 48th Brigade Combat Team of the Georgia Army National Guard in Forsyth, Ga.; died Dec. 2, 2005 of injuries sustained earlier that day when his truck accidentally rolled over at Tallil Air Base, Iraq.

Army Cpl. Jonathan R. Ayers

Age 24, of Snellville, Ga.; Jonathan Ayers was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment (Airborne), 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, Vicenza, Italy; died July 13, 2008 of wounds sustained when his outpost was attacked by small-arms fire and rocket-propelled grenades from enemy forces in Wanat, Afghanistan.

SOURCE: Military Times

Jonathan Ayers - Silver Star Soldier

Cpl Jonathan Ayers to be awarded posthumous Silver Star on March 29, 2009.

The date has also been proclaimed Corporal Jonathan R. Ayers Day by Snellville Mayor, Jerry Oberholtzer.

Fallen soldier to receive Silver Star
Atlanta Journal Constitution - GA, USA
But the 24-year-old soldier from Snellville did not recoil. His paratrooper instincts took over. He kept firing amid fierce enemy rpgs and small arms fire. ...

Mayor proclaims March 29th Cpl Jonathan R. Ayers Day

The mayor of Snellville, Jerry Oberholtzer, has proclaimed March 29 as "Corporal Jonathan R. Ayers Day" in the City of Snellville.

Atlanta-Area Soldier Will Be Honored Posthumously Sunday
NewsBlaze - Folsom,CA,USA
Ayers, 24, of Snellville was killed in action July 13, 2008, while as a machine gunner, he defended his unit against a vicious enemy attack. ...

For more about Corporal Ayers and his unit, see Honor the Fallen/Military Times

Cpl Jon Ayers to be added to memorial

Two names to be added to memorial

Gwinnett Daily Post - Griffin,GA,USA

At a 1 pm observance Tuesday, officials and the public will commemorate Army Cpl. Jonathan Ryan Ayers, 24, of Snellville, and Navy Cryptologic Technician ...

Local Soldier Jon Ayers Laid to Rest

Local Soldier Killed In Afghanistan Laid To Rest Sunday
WXIA-TV - Atlanta,GA,USA

Snellville, GA -- A local soldier killed in one of the bloodiest battles in Afghanistan in months was laid to rest Sunday, one week after his death. ...

Family and friends gathered for a private funeral at Zoar United Methodist Church in Snellville.

His service included full military honors at his gravesite at Eternal Hills Memory Gardens.

Good video at the above link, and here's more information on the Patriot Guard Riders.

Here are the photos in the Gallery at the Atlanta Journal Constitution.
The photo of Cpl. Ayers' parents being presented with the folded American flag was hard for me to view. I know that the hardest moments at a funeral are the 21 gun salute and the Presentation of the Flag. It is (or should) be a private moment, it seems to me. If you look through the window in the photo, you can see another camera pointed at the Ayers' family. It must have been very hard to take. If my son had died, it would be difficult for me to just get out of the house 1 week after...this is a remarkable family.

Related Links:

Fallen soldiers' families mourn together
Atlanta Journal Constitution - GA, USA
Members of the Phillips family were among the hundreds who attended Sunday's funeral and burial of Ayers, a 24-year-old Snellville resident. ...

Snellville Soldiers Remembered
News/Talk 750 WSB - Atlanta,USA
Ayers funeral is being held at the Zoar United Methodist Church in Snellville at 3pm Sunday. His burial at Eternal Hills Memory Gardens at 3700 Stone ...

Fallen Georgia Soldier Killed in Afghanistan Laid to Rest
MyFox Atlanta - Atlanta,GA,USA
SNELLVILLE, Ga. (MyFOX Atlanta) – A Georgia soldier who was killed while fighting in Afghanistan was laid to rest Sunday at a Snellville church. ...

Services Scheduled for Cpl. Jonathan Ayers

Services set for Cpl. Jonathan Ayers
Atlanta Journal Constitution - GA, USA
The family of Cpl. Jonathan Ayers will hold visitation and
funeral services this weekend for the Snellville soldier killed on Sunday in ...

Cpl Jon Ayers of Snellville Dies in Afghanistan

Snellville man dies in Afghanistan
Atlanta Journal Constitution - GA, USA
The Army corporal was due to return to Snellville in three weeks.
He had but one week remaining on his first tour of Afghanistan. ...

If anyone knows the family, will you please ask them to contact me (when they are ready) and I will provide a no-cost portrait of Jonathan.