Tecumseh High School dedicates memorial for dead soldier

Credit: HANDOUT

Credit: HANDOUT

Tecumseh schools plan to hold a memorial service today for a former student who died in Afghanistan exactly a year ago.

“It’s going to be a tough day. I wish I could do more. You have one of your students go out and serve. They are doing what I did and they know they are all in harms way. Wes knew it,” Master Sergeant Antonio Ruiz said.

Army Staff Sgt. Wesley Williams, 25, died while serving in the Army’s 2nd Infantry Division in Operation Enduring Freedom in Kandahar, Afghanistan on Dec. 10, 2012.

Williams graduated from Tecumseh High School in 2005 and leaves a wife and two children.

Williams and his wife, Krista, were both four-year members of Tecumseh’s JROTC unit under Ruiz’s supervision.

“Wes was a go getter. He always wanted to be first. He liked to goof around, but he was always serious when it was time for us to do something in the way of drills or flags. He always volunteered,” Ruiz said.

At the service, the Tecumseh’s JROTC will dedicate a black granite stone with a laser itched photo of William’s face on it.

The stone was paid entirely by donations made in William’s name. Any extra money from the donation fund will go into the JROTC scholarship fund at Tecumseh High School.

The memorial to dedicate the stone to Williams will take place at 12:30 p.m. at Tecumseh High School.

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