My walk today was dedicated in honor of:
Army Spc. Joseph A. Strong, Age 21 of Lebanon, IN.
KIA Dec. 26, 2006 in a rollover incident in Baghdad during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 509th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Fort Richardson, Alaska
Born in Plattsburgh, N.Y. in 1985, he was the son of Allen and Terri Strong.
He moved with his family to Lebanon Indiana at the age of three and lived north of Lebanon until he entered the U.S. Army. He was a 2003 graduate of Western Boone High School where he participated in baseball. He served in the U.S. Army since Jan. 2005 having been through basic training and airborne training.
He attended J. Everett Light in Indianapolis where he studied law enforcement. He had been employed at Gander Mountain in Lebanon and in his grandparents restaurant, the New Ross Steakhouse. He enjoyed family, cars, sports, fishing, guns and four-wheelers.
He was a member of Lighthouse Baptist Church in Lebanon and the V.F.W. in Lebanon.
We had an amazing walk threw the state park today. I want to thank everyone who honked and waved in helping me honor this hero.
He will NOT be forgotten.
