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...The rain had begun to fade when the sound of airplane engines started heralding the sad return of one of Floyd County’s own Saturday.
Flags waved in the post-rain breeze as friends, family and others honored the memory of Sgt. William E. Allmon as his body was escorted to a Rome funeral home.
“He’s going to be missed,” said the soldier’s father, William Allmon of Cartersville. “We’re going to miss his smile and his antics — he was a kid at heart. When we went to Chuck E. Cheese, he’d get as much out of it as the kids.”
Sgt. Allmon, who was born and raised in Floyd County until age 12, died April 12 in Baghdad of wounds received when his vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device.
Allmon said his son had two months to go on his current deployment and had run into an IED before.
“The last time shook him up pretty good,” said Allmon, who also said his son wasn’t the type to quit.
This
Soldiers salute the casket of Sgt. William E. Allmon. |
was Sgt. Allmon’s second tour in Iraq, and he received a number of recognitions, which include two Army commendation medals, an Army achievement medal and a combat action badge.
“He’s my only son, and I missed him when he was out in Texas,” said Allmon. “We encouraged him when he went in the military. He wanted to go to college and further his education.”
Much of Allmon’s family was in attendance, and they were joined by around 300 people including local and area police, state patrol, firefighters, the Civil Air Patrol, Patriot Guard Riders and locals at Richard B. Russell Regional Airport in honoring the fallen soldier.
Civil Air Patrol Lt. Col. Jim Belzer said they were honoring “Sgt. Allmon on his return home. It is important that we honor these men and women, especially when they are deceased for their service to the country.”
The body was transported to Henderson & Sons Funeral Home in a long procession.
At the funeral home, members of the American Legion Lindale Lodge Post 136 formed an honor guard Saturday night and plan to honor his memory each night until the funeral service.
Visitation will be Monday at the funeral home from 4 to 8 p.m. A memorial service will be at the funeral home chapel Tuesday at 1 p.m., and interment will follow at Floyd Memory Gardens.
Click here to watch a video report on Sgt. William Allmon's return.
Click here to view a photo gallery from the event.
