Sequel to "Terrible News"
Apr. 24th, 2005 01:27 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
xerox78Well, Lidell was buried this past Friday afternoon. I had read that he had married his high school sweetheart and was racking my brain trying to think of who that might have been. Well, I found out who she was, and I knew her even better than Lidell. I will continue to pray for Gina and the rest of the Sykes family.
Newspaper obituary
Funeral home obituary (with photo)
Funeral article
Funeral article
Soldier killed in Afghanistan lived for family, country
By LOUIS HANSEN, The Virginian-Pilot
© April 23, 2005 | Last updated 2:14 AM Apr. 23
CHESAPEAKE — The midday sun warmed the pews of the First Baptist Church South Hill on Friday and spilled over the flag-draped casket resting in front of the pulpit.
Sprays of orchids, carnations and roses surrounded the bier of Pfc. Pendelton Lidell Sykes II. A picture of the youthful soldier, half-smiling, sat on a nearby easel.
A strong soprano voice wailed in the bright chapel: "There's a hero if you look within your heart."
Family members clutched their pews. Others put their hands to their eyes. A woman sobbed loudly.
One by one, clergy, friends and military comrades came before the casket to honor "PL" Sykes. Brig. Gen. Don Broome told the mourners about Sykes' service, and the respect he earned from his fellow soldiers during his short Army career.
"He never quit," Broome said. "He was a professional."
Sykes and 17 others were killed in a fiery helicopter crash April 6 near Ghazni, Afghanistan, the worst loss of American lives in the country since the fall of the ruling Taliban in 2001.
The CH-47 Chinook went down during a sandstorm in the Afghan desert, about 80 miles south of the capital, Kabul. The transport helicopter was returning from a supply mission. No enemy fire was reported.
About 400 friends and family mourned and celebrated Sykes' life, clapping, weeping and sometimes laughing during the 1½ hour ceremony.
Sykes would have turned 26 on Tuesday. He is survived by his wife, Gina Sykes, parents, and many other family members in Chesapeake.
Friends spoke of Sykes as a quiet, generous man, as quick to protect his mother as to dive headfirst into the engine block of a friend's jalopy.
Sykes attended Indian River High School, leaving just four credits short of earning his diploma in 1998, according to school records. He later attended a technology school and joined the Army in May 2003. He wanted to be a mechanic.
In the chapel, Sherri Ford spoke about her friend's generosity, love of cars, and his endearing quirks.
"He could never get a full laugh out," said Ford, who then imitated his muted cackle.
Ford and Sykes were friends since elementary school and stayed in touch through e-mail while he served overseas.
One of Sykes' highlights of his time in the service happened just a week before his death, Ford said. Sykes provided security for first lady Laura Bush on a helicopter trip during her visit to Afghanistan in late March.
He worked as a machine gunner on the aircraft.
Broome told about Sykes' commitment to his fellow soldiers. Once, he said, Sykes drove from his base in Germany to Italy to fix a stranded soldier's vehicle.
He often worked late fixing aircraft, and always had time to listen and offer advice to his comrades.
"He was, in effect, a big brother to younger troops," Broome said.
Sykes was buried with a military ceremony at the Albert G. Horton Jr. Memorial Veterans Cemetery in Suffolk.
The Rev. Michael R. Toliver said the young solider had committed himself to his family and country.
"Maybe we'll question this war, and what goes on behind it," Toliver said. "But what we cannot question is the loyalty of the men and women like PL."
Reach Louis Hansen at (757) 446-2322 or at louis.hansen@pilotonline.com.
Newspaper obituary
Funeral home obituary (with photo)
Funeral article
Funeral article
Soldier killed in Afghanistan lived for family, country
By LOUIS HANSEN, The Virginian-Pilot
© April 23, 2005 | Last updated 2:14 AM Apr. 23
CHESAPEAKE — The midday sun warmed the pews of the First Baptist Church South Hill on Friday and spilled over the flag-draped casket resting in front of the pulpit.
Sprays of orchids, carnations and roses surrounded the bier of Pfc. Pendelton Lidell Sykes II. A picture of the youthful soldier, half-smiling, sat on a nearby easel.
A strong soprano voice wailed in the bright chapel: "There's a hero if you look within your heart."
Family members clutched their pews. Others put their hands to their eyes. A woman sobbed loudly.
One by one, clergy, friends and military comrades came before the casket to honor "PL" Sykes. Brig. Gen. Don Broome told the mourners about Sykes' service, and the respect he earned from his fellow soldiers during his short Army career.
"He never quit," Broome said. "He was a professional."
Sykes and 17 others were killed in a fiery helicopter crash April 6 near Ghazni, Afghanistan, the worst loss of American lives in the country since the fall of the ruling Taliban in 2001.
The CH-47 Chinook went down during a sandstorm in the Afghan desert, about 80 miles south of the capital, Kabul. The transport helicopter was returning from a supply mission. No enemy fire was reported.
About 400 friends and family mourned and celebrated Sykes' life, clapping, weeping and sometimes laughing during the 1½ hour ceremony.
Sykes would have turned 26 on Tuesday. He is survived by his wife, Gina Sykes, parents, and many other family members in Chesapeake.
Friends spoke of Sykes as a quiet, generous man, as quick to protect his mother as to dive headfirst into the engine block of a friend's jalopy.
Sykes attended Indian River High School, leaving just four credits short of earning his diploma in 1998, according to school records. He later attended a technology school and joined the Army in May 2003. He wanted to be a mechanic.
In the chapel, Sherri Ford spoke about her friend's generosity, love of cars, and his endearing quirks.
"He could never get a full laugh out," said Ford, who then imitated his muted cackle.
Ford and Sykes were friends since elementary school and stayed in touch through e-mail while he served overseas.
One of Sykes' highlights of his time in the service happened just a week before his death, Ford said. Sykes provided security for first lady Laura Bush on a helicopter trip during her visit to Afghanistan in late March.
He worked as a machine gunner on the aircraft.
Broome told about Sykes' commitment to his fellow soldiers. Once, he said, Sykes drove from his base in Germany to Italy to fix a stranded soldier's vehicle.
He often worked late fixing aircraft, and always had time to listen and offer advice to his comrades.
"He was, in effect, a big brother to younger troops," Broome said.
Sykes was buried with a military ceremony at the Albert G. Horton Jr. Memorial Veterans Cemetery in Suffolk.
The Rev. Michael R. Toliver said the young solider had committed himself to his family and country.
"Maybe we'll question this war, and what goes on behind it," Toliver said. "But what we cannot question is the loyalty of the men and women like PL."
Reach Louis Hansen at (757) 446-2322 or at louis.hansen@pilotonline.com.
