By all accounts, Spc. Jason Johnston touched many lives, from his hometown of Albion, New York, all the way to the mountains of Afghanistan.On Wednesday, New York state will honor the 24-year-old soldier and junior firefighter by lowering all flags at government buildings to half-staff. A Pentagon release said the soldier was killed by a roadside bomb in Arghandab, Afghanistan, on the day after Christmas. Johnston’s parents, Brad and Jenny, have released a statement:
”We are very proud of our son and his love and devotion to his country. We want people to know our son was more than just another soldier that died in Afghanistan. He was a nephew, cousin, uncle, grandson, friend, brother and our only son."
The Buffalo News reports that the Albion Fire Department, where Johnston's father has also volunteered for 20 years, made the fallen soldier an honorary member on Monday. Reporter Gene Warner also gives this stirring account of how the department sprung to action after getting the terrible news of their friend and hometown hero's death.
At noon Sunday, just hours after the news started spreading, firefighters got on their trucks for a red-light procession to the department's memorial in Mount Albion Cemetery, where they held a brief ceremony, observing a moment of silence and lowering the American flag to half-staff.
About 35 to 40 firefighters attended on extremely short notice.
"We want the family to know that the Fire Department is here to support the family as much as we can," [Albion Fire Department President Stanley] Farone said. "And when he comes home, we plan to give him the hero's welcome he deserves."
WIVB-TV reports that Johnston joined the Army at 19 and was on his second tour in Afghanistan. He was planning on getting a college degree after his deployment ended.
By coincidence, I am going to be in Buffalo, New York, tomorrow. I look forward to being able to pause near a flag at half-staff and say a prayer for this young man, who sacrificed so much so we could be free.
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