Today our walk was dedicated in honor of:
Army SPC Christopher A. Patterson, Age 20 of Aurora, IL.
KIA Jan. 6, 2012 Operation Enduring Freedom
A 2009 Graduate from West Aurora High School, Chris partook in everything the performing arts had to offer.
From singing with the a cappella choir and West High STUDy Hall (a male a cappella group) to performing with the marching band and theatrical performances. After graduation, Chris continued his studies at Valparaiso University in Indiana, majoring in vocal music education. While at Valparaiso he was a member of the professional music fraternity, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, and toured with the school’s premier vocal ensemble, the Chorale; all while composing and arranging music for the A cappella group VuVox and the West High STUDy Hall.
Having come from a strong military family, Chris enlisted with the Indiana National Guard and served as a 12B Combat Engineer with the 713th Engineering Company (Sapper) based out of the Valparaiso Armory. In 2011, while Chris was an ROTC cadet, the 713th Engineering Company was activated in support of Operation Enduring Freedom to Kandahar, Afghanistan. When Chris was informed that he would not be deploying with them he responded, “With all due respect, that is not why I enlisted.” He convinced his command to allow him to deploy and left American soil on November 11th, 2011. On January 6th, 2012 Chris’s convoy was struck by an IED (Improvised Explosive Device). Spc. Christopher A. Patterson, SSgt. Jonathan M. Metzger, Spc. Brian J. Leonhardt, Spc. Robert J. Tauterus Jr. were killed.
To honor Chris’s legacy, through the assistance of the Dog Tag Brewing Foundation, the Chris Patterson Memorial Foundation was founded to ensure Chris’s legacy and sacrifice are never forgotten through the support of the performing arts that were so much of his life.
We had a great 9.02 Mile walk this morning. We walked beside Lake Holiday and we watched some ducks. We then continued to walk threw Holiday Hills and then went behind CCHS and ended up on old Lantana Road and followed it back to town where we stopped at the War Memorial Park and read some names off off the Memorial War. We then headed back towards the house. It was a very beautiful day for our walk. I want to thank everyone who honked, waved, and saluted in helping me honor this hero. We had 208 honks. It was amazing. Thank you.
Army SPC Christopher A. Patterson will not be forgotten !
