Alabama Soldier Gets Special Memorial

Iraq Brewton Four years after his death in Iraq Corporal Christopher Winchester is being remembered in his boyhood home of East Brewton.

by Chad Petri

Published: Fri, July 03, 2009 - 12:33 pm CST Last Updated: Fri, July 03, 2009 - 7:24 pm CST

Landscapers carving out the finishing touches n a memorial for Corporal Christopher Winchester, today July 3rd 2009. East Brewton was Winchester's boyhood home. Family members say they wanted something permanent, so their son would be remembered.

“We started with a pancake breakfast we raised money to help pay for it and it all fell together, we've had a lot of people to donate and help,” says Christopher’s mother Gail Williams. Folks around here say they wanted to honor a young man who dedicated his life to others.

“He joined the military as soon as he could, he did not avoid any opportunity to serve his country he joined the greatest branch of service, the Marine Corps,” says family friend Charles Jackson.
Family and friends say they want this monument to not just honor Corporal Winchester but all members of the military.

“This is very important, not just for the Winchester family but it's very important for our area because this is a very military supportive community,” says Jackson. His mother says Christopher will be remembered as a man who always brought happiness with him, even in dark times in Iraq.

“How he always found humor in everything there would be a tense moment somehow he would say or do something bring them out of that tension,” says his mother Gail Williams. The memorial will be officially finished in a fourth of July Ceremony. That’ll be July 4th at 4 pm. It will be in RT Johnson Park in East Brewton.

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