Video: Fallen War Veteran

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LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) A fallen war veteran was honored Friday at West Lowndes High School. Almost a year after his death, Samson Edmond’s family and friends gathered to honor the American hero.

Samson Edmond III died in September of last year after being shot outside of a bar in West Virginia. As a former West Lowndes ROTC member, Edmond served overseas and earned a purple heart after being wounded in the field. David Casebeer founded ROTC at West Lowndes and remained in contact with Edmond after he graduated.

“He was hurt and being able to come back and be positive- he was a leader by doing and that’s about the best I can say.”

The West Lowndes High School ROTC Program was founded in 2000, and Edmond was one of the first to join. The Program is now nationally recognized and Edmond’s father, Samson Edmond Jr., could not be more grateful for his son’s service to the country.

“I’m so proud of him. He was everything that a father would want from a child. Everyday, I look at that picture, and the tears come but I know he’s with God.”

Even after being wounded in Iraq, Samson still had the desire to serve.

“He said ‘But daddy I didn’t want to come home,’ I said ‘why?’, he said ‘I came here with a unit, I want to come back home with a unit.”

When Edmond was among the hundreds of students at West Lowndes High School, he still made an impression on the administration.

“You know, he had a character about him. A way of carrying himself. Politeness, courteousness, willing to go the extra mile just to help somebody,” said Charles Jackson, principle at West Lowndes High School.

Samson Edmond received his college degree and joined the national guard before his death. He leaves behind his parents,  four siblings, and a fiance.

Categories: Local News

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