MOORE, Oklahoma -
A portion of
Oklahoma State Highway 37, 4th Street in Moore, was dedicated to the sacrifice
made and memory of 1st Lt. David Timothy Wright II of Moore.
The family, still very proud of their soldier, said it was
bittersweet. It was three years ago this Friday that David was killed in
action. And his mom and dad don't want anyone to forget what their son gave the
ultimate sacrifice to protect.
"He was a phenomenal son, soldier," mom Michele Wright said. "We
can't stress enough that people don't forget what he gave up so we can all be
free today."
It's been three years since police Maj. Tim Wright and Michele
lost their only son; killed fighting in Afghanistan.
"They were coming out of a village and the Taliban waited for his
striker to line up with a telephone pole and they detonated an 800 pound IED
and thank god he was killed instantly," said Tim. "His men, his soldiers
said they had no doubt if he knew someone would be killed that day, he would
have volunteered. He would have stepped up and done it."
For mom and dad the emotions are still raw, but they're happy to
have support from the city of Moore where David grew up playing football.
"To me he's just somewhere else right now. We say he's on a
mission beyond this horizon," Michele said. "On days like this the reality is
he's gone."
David is gone, but not forgotten here or in his unit.
"I didn't know who she was and why she was here and she knew my
son too, she said he was a remarkable man," said Michele about a woman named ‘Heather',
a medic with David's unit.
Heather brought Michele a bouquet of yellow roses to the highway
dedication.
"Proud, proud, I couldn't be more proud of him," Michele said. "Before
he deployed he rode with his dad and said, ‘I never want to have my name in
that park.' And now his name is permanently in that park and on the road in
front of that park. So it's bittersweet. We'll see him again someday. Until
then we want everyone remembers what he did."
One month after their son died, the Wright's received a letter
from David saying thanks for always supporting me.
The city of Moore
wants to continue that support with the street named after him.
David went on to
attend the University of Oklahoma on a track scholarship where he was a part of
the OU Track team. He graduated in December 2006 with a BA degree in
sociology/criminology.
After graduation
from OU he joined the US Army and did his basic training at Fort Benning where
he was awarded the Army Achievement Award and Soldier of the Cycle, which is
the top soldier of his class. After completing basic training he completed
Officer School, at Fort Benning as well.
David deployed to
Afghanistan July 21 as a First Lieutenant of the II Platoon Bravo Company, 5th
Brigade, II Infantry Division; Striker Brigade/Combat Team.
A portion of Oklahoma State Highway 37, 4th Street in Moore, was dedicated to the sacrifice made and memory of 1st Lt. David Timothy Wright II of Moore.
