Community, VFW honor Collinsville soldier's sacrifice
BY JERRY WOFFORD World Staff Writer
Sunday, March 18, 2012
3/18/12 at 8:03 AM
Read about other
Spc. Christopher
Horton and other
Oklahoma soldiers who have
died in Iraq or Afghanistan.
COLLINSVILLE - The memory of Spc. Christopher Horton will stay with those who knew him, but now generations to come will see him and remember his sacrifice.
Horton was a member of the Oklahoma National Guard who was killed last summer in Afghanistan. On Saturday, his photo was hung in the Collinsville Veterans of Foreign Wars post, alongside yellowing photos of others from the area who died in overseas wars.
"I want people to remember what some gave for their country," said Jane Horton, Christopher Horton's widow.
The small VFW hall was packed with family, friends and those who never knew Christopher Horton to see Jane Horton hang the photo on the wall.
Christopher Horton, 26, of Collinsville, was killed Sept. 9 in Paktia province in Afghanistan when his unit came under attack by small arms fire.
City and state leaders were also on hand to honor Christopher Horton and to support Jane.
"We wanted to do what we could to support his family," said Owasso Mayor Doug Bonebrake. "That's what we do in Oklahoma."
Jane Horton said the support from the community has been overwhelming, and she appreciates what has been done for her and for Christopher Horton's memory. In January, city officials in Collinsville changed the name of the street he used to live on. Earlier this month, two digital billboards were shown in the Tulsa area with a photo of Christopher and Jane on their wedding day with the text, "My husband... your fallen hero."
"It's a real blessing," she said.
Jane Horton wants people to remember her husband and the sacrifice he made.
"He loved this country and the freedom you have," Jane Horton said. "I hope you can all live the lives Chris died to give to us."
He was a member of Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 279th Infantry, based in the Tulsa area. Horton has been honored with the Bronze Star Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Purple Heart Medal and the NATO Service Medal.
Jerry Wofford 918-581-8310
jerry.wofford@tulsaworld.com
Associated Images:
Christopher Horton: The Oklahoma National Guardsman was killed in Afghanistan
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