Local fallen soldier honored at Veterans Day ceremony

UNDERWOOD - Dr. Mike McLeary said he remembers the day Jamie Lindsey sat in his dental office and shared his decision to join the U.S. Army.

"I was proud of him and, having served in the Army Reserves for a time with his grandfather and knowing his family's deep-rooted military background, I knew they would be proud also," said McLeary, who recently returned from his third tour of duty in Iraq. "I know Jamie loved God, loved his family and loved his country. To me, Jamie Lindsey is truly an American hero."

Cpl. James "Jamie" Tyler Lindsey, 20, a graduate of the former Bradshaw High School in Florence, was killed April 12, 2007, outside of Baghdad.

"We're thankful to have the privilege to live in this country and to be here to remember the men and women who have fought and gave theirs lives for our freedom, like Jamie did," the Rev. Donnie McDaniel, pastor at Underwood Baptist, said during an opening prayer Wednesday.

More than 350 people, many family and friends, made their way to Underwood Baptist Church for a ceremony that honored and remembered Lindsey.

Lindsey was a forward observer with the U.S. Army's Third Battalion, 509th Parachute Infantry Regiment, Fourth Brigade Combat Team (Airborne) 25th Infantry Division from Fort Richardson, Alaska.

Reports indicate Lindsey, who was driving a Humvee while on patrol, was killed when his vehicle struck a roadside bomb.

With candid snapshots of his life shown on a large screen above the choir loft, friends, colleagues, dignitaries and family members shared memories and thoughts about Lindsey and his life.

"Grief can destroy you or focus you. You can decide a relationship was all for nothing if it had to end in death and you're alone, or you can realize every moment had more meaning that you come to recognize at the time, so much meaning it scares you, so you just live," Lindsey's widow, Michelle, read from the novel "Odd Hours" by Dean Koontz. She said those excerpts were the best way to sum up her feelings about her late husband. The couple had been married six months when Jamie was deployed to Iraq.

"So you just lived, just took for granted the love and laughter of each day and didn't allow yourself to consider the sacredness of it, but when it's over and you're alone you begin to see it wasn't just dinner and a movie together ... it was everything; it was the why of life, every event and precious moment of it."

With her voice breaking, she continued, "... you're driven to your knees, not by the weight of the loss, but by the gratitude of what preceded the loss, and the ache is always there. But one day - not the emptiness."

Michelle Lindsey, who lives in Anchorage, Alaska, said those words from the book summed up her feelings about her husband and their life together.

"Today, we had an opportunity to reflect on the life that he was living so his family and friends could have better ways of life," said Rep. Tammy Irons, D-Florence, who emceed the program. "(Jamie Lindsey) is a hero. We owe him a debt that we can never repay."

Col. Jere Medaris, whose son, Josh, was Lindsey's best friend, said he was honored to have been able to see Lindsey grow and mature as an adult.

"He had the core values - courage, honesty and trust - that were instilled by his family," Medaris said. "He had a zest for life."

Lindsey's 4-year-old cousin, Mackenlee Cooper, sang "God Bless America" as many family and friends wiped away tears.

"This was a beautiful service; they did a good job," said Lindsey's father, Tony Lindsey. "(Jamie) would have really loved this," added his mother, Genice Nelson.

Outside the church is a Memorial Meditation Garden constructed by Corey Donaldson, a Life Scout with Troop 284 in Florence and Lindsey's former neighbor.

The junior from Austin High School said it took about three weekends to construct.

"Jamie and his brother were real good to me when my dad was in Iraq (in 2004)," Donaldson said. "They would help me mow the grass and we hung out together. He was like my big brother."

The garden includes a bench, landscaping and a bronze plaque with Lindsey's picture laser-etched in the bronze. A dedication ceremony for the garden will be at 4 p.m. Friday at the church.

"I wanted to do this to honor him and all the others who have sacrificed their lives for us," Donaldson said.

Michelle Lindsey said it was wonderful to know so many people loved her husband and thought so much of him.

After the ceremony, a long line of family and friends made their way to Cox Creek Parkway, near Alabama 20, where a brief ceremony took place to unveil a sign dedicating the Cpl. James Tyler Lindsey Memorial Highway.

Irons said the Alabama Legislature passed a resolution naming the portion of Cox Creek Parkway from Alabama 20 to U.S. 72 in honor of Lindsey.

"Every time someone asks me about that sign and who James Lindsey was, I can tell them he was a soldier and a hero from Florence, Alabama, who exemplified duty, honor and courage," Medaris said.

"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends," McLeary quoted to the family from John 15:13. "That's what Jamie Lindsey did for us."

Tom Smith can be reached at 740-5757 or tom.smith@TimesDaily.com.