Every year Mayor Lucas honors fallen military members and specifically memorializes those from Virginia at a ceremony as a part of the Town’s Annual Memorial Festival. Unfortunately, due to COVID-19, the Memorial Ceremony and Festival had to be cancelled this year, updated -but was later a small ceremony was held.
The Town of Shenandoah still wanted to take this time to honor Staff Sgt. Ian Paul McLaughlin, from Newport News, VA, who passed away January 11, 2020 supporting Operation Freedom's Sentinel.
McLaughlin was one of two soldiers killed in action when their vehicle was struck by an improvised explosive device in Afghanistan. Mayor Lucas, Council, Employees, and Citizens of the Town of Shenandoah thank him for his service and sacrifice for our freedoms and we all send our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Mr. McLaughlin.
https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/dailypress/obituary.aspx?pid=195090660
The Town of Shenandoah still wanted to take this time to honor Aviation Electronics Technician 2nd Class Slayton Richard Saldana, from Manassas, VA. Saldana was declared deceased July 30, 2020 while serving during Operation Freedom's Sentinel.
Slayton Richard Saldana was listed as duty status Whereabouts Unknown following a July 17, 2020 non-combat, man overboard incident in the Arabian Sea and was pronounced deceased on July 30, 2019.
Mayor Lucas, Council, Employees, and Citizens of the Town of Shenandoah thank him for his service and sacrifice for our freedoms and we all send our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Mr. Saldana.
Ian Paul McLaughlin
Slayton Richard Saldana
