Airman First Class Patton honored, remembered

COEUR d'ALENE - "I miss my boy," said T.J. Patton, a father who has experienced the worst feeling a parent can imagine.

He spoke from his heart into a microphone Saturday afternoon. He stood next to his wife, Sherri, with whom he shares the terrible grief of losing their son, Airman First Class Tyler J. Patton.

"This has definitely been a journey, and it will continue to be one," T.J. said to the heavy-hearted crowd.

A1C Tyler J. Patton was only 20 when he was hit by a car and killed June 27, 2011, at a U.S. Air Force base while stationed in Suffolk, England. Tyler grew up in Coeur d'Alene, graduated from Kootenai Bridge Academy and served his country in Iraq.

T.J. and Sherri, of Coeur d'Alene, were presented an Honor and Remember flag bearing their son's name in a ceremony at the Fallen Heroes Plaza on Cherry Hill, surrounded by members of the Veterans of Foreign War, Combat Vet Riders and Patriot Guard riders who proudly held American flags. The Coeur d'Alene Police Department's Honor Guard unfolded a ceremonial flag, Coeur d'Alene Fire presented a garrison flag on one of their fire engines and friends, family and many more were present to honor Tyler for his ultimate sacrifice.

"We always try to be supportive of anybody who's in our position," said John Holley of Post Falls. John and his wife, Stacey, suffered the same tragedy when their son, 21-year-old Army medic Matthew, was killed in Iraq almost 10 years ago. He said Honor and Remember ceremonies, such as Tyler's, help keep memories alive.

"We know what they're going through," he said. "We have to be here for them, even though it's hard for me to do it. It's just what we do."

The Honor and Remember flag contains deep symbolism honoring fallen servicemen and women, from the eternal flame to the heartbreaking gold star. The flag and ceremony was sponsored by Frontier Communications, which raises funds for families of fallen heroes to ensure the memories of their loved ones are not forgotten. Former Coeur d'Alene mayor Sandi Bloem presented the flag to the Pattons.

"There's over 1,300 families that have requested these flags, yet there's no one to sponsor them, they're about $400, and nobody to present them," said Greg Barratt, head of Frontier's veterans affairs in Connecticut. "It's our honor to do that. We're privileged to be able to do this for the families. This is our obligation to honor and remember, in this case, Tyler, and say, 'We remember your sacrifice.'"

After the solemn ceremony, Sherri said she was amazed by the support from the community.

"People that we don't even know have reached out to us to do this for us because our son's service is important to them," she said. "It's nice to see that it's important to other people. It's important to us, obviously, but it's just amazing to see it really is important to so many other people who never knew him. We're in awe. Everybody's gone over and above just to celebrate him and to remember him and that's what all of us families really want, is for our kids to be remembered."