Conner Jay

Photo stories: Kenny's Funeral

On June 23, 2007 Spc Joseph Kenny died in a non-combat related incident while serving with the Army's 1st Cavalry Division in Mosul, Iraq. On Sunday July 1st, Kenny returned home to friends and family, the first soldier from Veneta, Oregon to die while serving over in Iraq.

As friends and family file out of the West Lawn Funeral Home, Linda Smith spends a final moment with her son.
  
Before Spc. Kenny's memorial at Elmira Highschool, members of the Patriot Gaurd Riders, a traveling motorcycle veterans' group, stand to protect against protestors.
  
"Kenny was the best Oregon has to offer," said Governor Ted Kulongoski.
     
  
About 200 of Spc. Kenny's family, friends, comrades and other veterans gathered in Elmira High School's gymnasium to remember the 20-year-old Veneta man.
   
Members of the Patriot Gaurd Riders present Linda Smith and her daughter with a teddy bear.
   
lmira High School's gymnasium stood in a stunned silence, as Linda Smith is given the keepsakes no mother wants to receive.
     
  
Alsup says goodbye to his friend's father, John Kenny.
   
Saying goodbye, Linda Smith walks away from Spc. Joesph Kenny's fiancé Ashley Brodkorb, as a friend tries to calm Brodkorb's sobs.
   
Matt Alsup composes himself outside the West Lawn Funeral Home after viewing the body of his friend, Spc. Joseph Kenny. Alsup plans to be deployed to Iraq after completing training as a Marine.