| SEAL’s service lives on with memorial bracelets |
|
Posted: Wednesday, February 1, 2012 10:00 pm
|
Aaron Vaughn
|
|
|
By CHRIS MENEES
Staff Reporter
Aaron Vaughn lived his childhood dream as an elite U.S. Navy SEAL.
In doing so, he made the ultimate sacrifice while serving his country.
Now, his family is remembering him with a special memorial bracelet — the proceeds of which will benefit Vaughn’s two young children.
Vaughn, a 30-year-old Obion County native, was one of 30 U.S. servicemen — including 17 Navy SEALs — who died Aug. 6, 2011, when a rocket-propelled grenade fired by a Taliban insurgent downed their helicopter in Afghanistan.
He was a devoted husband and father, leaving behind his wife, Kimberly Vaughn of Virginia Beach, Va., and their two children, son Reagan, now 2, and daughter Chamberlyn, now seven months old.
Vaughn’s children will benefit from proceeds from the sale of the new Aaron C. Vaughn Memorial Bracelets, currently available for sale for $5 each.
The bracelets have been created as a way to honor Vaughn and to remember the sacrifice he made for his country. Proceeds will go to the Children of Aaron Vaughn Memorial Fund.
The bracelets are black rubber wristbands with gold writing, “SEAL Aaron C. Vaughn. KIA 06AUG11.”
They may be ordered by going online to the website www.stcatherinesboutique.com/AaronVaughnOrder. By clicking on “buy now,” buyers will be directed to complete the purchase through PayPal.
The $5 cost of the bracelet includes shipping.
Local residents interested in purchasing bracelets may also contact Vaughn’s paternal grandparents, Geneva and Billy Vaughn Sr., at 536-4239.
More information about Vaughn can be found on the Facebook page “Prayers for Family of Aaron Vaughn, Navy SEAL.” There, users can also find a link to a new website started by Vaughn’s parents.
Vaughn was the son of Karen (Rodenberger) and Billy Vaughn Jr. of Stuart, Fla., formerly of Obion County, and the grandson of Geneva and Billy Vaughn Sr. of Union City and Evelyn Rodenberger of Knoxville and the late Frank Rodenberger, formerly of Woodland Mills.
He graduated from Obion County Central High School in 1999 and enlisted in the U.S. Navy on his 21st birthday, a few months after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. He began SEAL training right after basic training and became a highly-decorated combat veteran who earned numerous awards.
In memorial services after his death, Vaughn was remembered as a courageous young man who deeply loved God, his family and his country. He was laid to rest in Arlington (Va.) National Cemetery.
Staff Reporter Chris Menees may be contacted by email at cmenees@ucmessenger.com.
Published in The Messenger 2.1.12 |
|
Printer-friendly format
|
|
