WAYCROSS, Ga. — The Waycross, Georgia community is mourning one of their own: 24-year-old Kennedy Ladon Sanders who is among the three United States soldiers killed in a drone strike this weekend in Jordan near the Syrian border.
City Manager Ulysses Rayford said the small town is in shock over the 24-year-old army reservist’s death.
"It is a tragic loss," Rayford said.
President Joe Biden confirmed she was one of three soldiers killed in a drone strike over the weekend near the Syrian border.
"We lost 3 brave souls in an attack on one of our bases […] and we shall respond," Biden said.
The Islamic Resistance in Iraq claimed responsibility for the attack partly in retaliation for Israeli military actions in Gaza, according to NBC.
Rayford said Waycross flew the flag at half-mast Monday in Sanders’ honor.
They're also planning to do a proclamation when her body is returned and name a street after her.
“We're going to honor her memory,” Rayford said. “Although this is it is a sad time, we're going to rejoice in the things she did in such a short life because some people don't get to serve the country, go around defending the world, go all these places in such a such a short lifetime."
Sanders' homecoming was scheduled for June, and Rayford said the town will now pay tribute to the brave soldier.
"Life is short,” Rayford said. “Life is precious, and sometimes we forget that. Sometimes, unfortunately, some things happen that forced us to remember those things. At a time like this, it's just very important we all come together and love this family, get them through definitely next year."