Fallen Vietnam veteran honored Sunday, in annual Russellville Memorial Day Ceremony

RUSSELVILLE, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Memorial Day Ceremony was held at the Historic Enloe Cemetery Monday, and organizers unveiled the new Corporal John Allen Campbell Memorial Highway.

Corporal Campbell is the only Russellville veteran that died during the Vietnam War.

They will be renaming a three mile section of Route-C that runs through Russellville, and ends right before the cemetery where Corporal Campbell was laid to rest. The sign cost $4,000 that was fundraised by the community through a facebook fundraiser.

Jeremy Amick is the Public Affairs Officer for Silver Star Families of America. SSFOA is a non-profit that "is dedicated to supporting and assisting wounded, ill, injured, and dying active duty and veterans and their families of ALL Branches of Service from ALL wars," according to their website.

Amick is a veteran, and his son is in the U.S Army, and he said that today's turn out meant a lot to him.

"It was really heartwarming to see, I would guess more than 125 people from around the community show up to pay their respects." Amick said.

Ashley Shannon is Jeremy Allen Campbell's niece and says her uncle gave so much during his life, and she was very happy that they are commemorating him.

"He gave everything, so having everybody remember him, it's just, it's the least we could do really." Shannon said.

Veteran Rodger Thompson spoke at the ceremony today, Thompson served in the Vietnam and he said he is glad to see the highway renamed.

"That means so much to the guys," Thompson said.

Thompson said that he hopes that more veterans will share their stories.

"Well, I wish more guys, in our situation would do this, to let everybody know what we went through." Thompson said.