An American hero

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The hearse carrying the remains of Shannon Chihuahua slowly travels down East Jackson Street, Saturday. Rhonda Stamps/Times-Enterprise

November 27, 2010

A family and community mourn the passing of local man Shannon Chihuahua

Patti Dozier CNHI The Times Enterprise Sat Nov 27, 2010, 08:27 PM EST

THOMASVILLE — Holiday shoppers and busy shopkeepers watched quietly and respectfully Saturday afternoon as a Thomasville man’s remains departed First Baptist Church at a busy downtown intersection.

After a 90-minute funeral attended by about 400 at the Thomasville church, U.S. Army Specialist Shannon Chihuahua was laid to rest at Bethany Methodist Church Cemetery in Pelham with full military honors.

Thomas County residents displayed American flags along and above the East Jackson Street funeral procession route.

Chihuahua, a combat medic, was killed in Afghanistan Nov. 12. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), at Fort Campbell, Ky.

At the end of the Saturday service, Maj. Gen. Robert B. Brown presented — posthumously — to Chihuahua the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Army Commendation Medal and Good Conduct Medal.

The fallen soldier’s wife, Kristen, and his parents accepted the honors.

Brown described Chihuahua as “incredibly talented.” He said the soldier would have been successful in any profession, but chose military service.

Chihuahua participated in a number of missions and served as a role model for others, Brown said.

Second District U.S. Congressman Sanford Bishop made presentations to Chihuahua’s widow on behalf of the U.S. president and members of the U.S. House and Senate.

“Freedom is not free,” Bishop said. “Many have paid the price.” Chihuahua paid the ultimate price, he explained.

Chihuahua’s family members spoke about their loved one.

A sister said she was against her brother joining the Army. “It was something he wanted to do for a while,” she said, adding that she was proud of her younger sibling.

“He had a great sense of duty, even as a boy,” a brother said. “ ... He had become a man and found his own sense of duty and honor.”

Chihuahua’s’ brother-in-law, who is serving in the Army, said the fallen soldier loved his wife, his two daughters and his country.

“He had one of the most contagious smiles I’ve ever seen,” the soldier said.

“He never accepted defeat or quit,” the relative said, and saluted the flag-covered casket before him.

Another of Chihuahua’s sisters recalled her brother’s smile and bright eyes. “Every memory I have of growing up is about Shannon,” she said.

“I didn’t want him to go to Afghanistan. ... He talked about saving lives like people talk about going to Walmart,” the sister said.

She told Chihuahua not to try to be a hero “because he already was.”

“He’ll never be gone, because his spirit will always be with us,” Chihuahua’s sister said.

Michael Freeman, Chihuahua’s father-in-law, said, “The law says Shannon was my son-in-law, but I consider him a son, my boy.”

Freeman said Chihuahua was a hero to him long before his death.

Chihuahua’s widow said her husband was kind, gentle, loving and, most of all, brave.

“I’ll never be able to express how happy you have made me,” she said, standing near her husband’s casket. “I will miss you until I draw my last breath.”

The Rev. Doug Hall told the family death cannot remove memories and emotions from the mind and heart.

Remembering the good times brings smiles to loved ones’ faces, he added.

“That’s what family’s all about. That’s what love’s all about. That’s what Shannon’s all about. That’s what I want you to be about,” Hall told family members.