Hundreds of People Remember Fallen Ozarks Soldier
By
Michelle Sherwood
Story Created:
May 2, 2008
Story Updated:
May 2, 2008
Though hundreds of people showed up, it still felt like a private affair. The family requested that we not videotape them, but they still wanted the media there. Staff Sergeant Ronald C. Blystone's father, Lonnie, said he believed it was our duty-- that's something the family has come to know a lot about.
R.C. received several medals of valor during his service. He was deployed four times--once at Guantanamo Bay and three times in Iraq.
34-year-old Blystone was killed Wednesday, April 23, during his third deployment to Iraq. He had lived his entire life in Springfield and was a Glendale High School graduate, though he was stationed in Fort Hood, Texas.
Blystone and his wife, Kelly, have three children. Maggie age 13, Molly age 10, and Zackery age 9.
While R.C. was in the military, he received several awards, including two Bronze Stars, The Purple Heart, Valor Unit Award, four Good Conduct Medals, two Army Service Ribbons, the Army Commendation Medal, the Expert Infantry Badge, two National Defense Service Awards, two Iraq Campaign Medals, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and the Army Achievement Medal.
The family has set up an educational fund for the Blystone children at BanCorp South. You can donate at any bank location or mail them to: The Blystone Educational Fund, BanCorp South, P.O. Box 4023, Springfield, MO 65808.
Friday, May 2 at 10:10 PM KJ wrote ...
I believe that as long the family does not object that there is nothing wrong with the media showing coverage of the funerals of those who have died in service to our country. There is a line to be drawn though....I am a military wife and if the worst were to happen to my husband I would not want tv cameras in my face trying to capture the grief our family was dealing with. The public does not need to see that.
Friday, May 2 at 5:40 PM noah from Laquey wrote ...
Yes the media should cover these funerals but only up to a point. Give the family their time to mourn their loss.
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