CONWAY, SC (WBTW) – The Folds of Honor organization honored a fallen soldier in Conway on Sunday afternoon. Army Chief Warrant Officer 2, Jason Defrenn, was killed in Iraq in February 2007 from injuries sustained when his Apache helicopter was forced to land.
Defrenn’s family lives in South Carolina and his widow is a Folds of Honor Higher Education Scholarship recipient. Folds of Honor provides scholarships for spouses and children whose loved ones were disabled or killed in combat.
Gary West, a retired Air Force Colonel, held Sunday’s ceremony as a part of his Patriot Honor Ride.
West is biking over 2,500 miles from Maine to Florida and honoring a fallen soldier in each state along the way.
“In this senior chapter of my life, I just wanted to do something to give back to these precious families who have paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom,” said West.
He said some parts of the journey have been tougher than other but he’s excited to have met so many people along the way.
“The people that we have met have been unbelievable. The sense of patriotism and pride and love for country has just been very strong all up and down the coast and that’s been so encouraging to me,” added West.
