Prince William County Hosts Memorial Day Ceremony

Prince William County will remember those who died in service during a Memorial Day ceremony at Freedom Park, near the McCoart Government Center, at 1 County Complex Court, on Friday, May 27, 2022, at 10:30 a.m. The event is open to the public.

Memorial Day, observed on the last Monday in May, is set aside to remember those who died while serving the country in the U.S. military. Many remember by visiting cemeteries and memorials and by attending Memorial Day ceremonies or parades to recall those who perished.

Prince William Board of County Supervisors Vice-Chair Margaret Angela Franklin, Coles District Supervisor Yesli Vega, and Neabsco District Supervisor Victor S. Angry will provide remarks during the ceremony. Other board members will also attend the event. They will pay tribute and remember Forrest Leamon with remarks during the ceremony.

U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, or DEA, Special Agent Forrest Nelson Leamon’s name will be added to the Prince William County War Memorial which honors Prince William County residents who died in combat.

Leamon died in a helicopter crash on Oct 26, 2009, during his third deployment to Afghanistan. He and two other DEA special agents, along with seven U.S. soldiers, were on a joint, covert mission to combat drug trafficking as part of the Forward Deployed Advisory Support Team, or FAST, program. All 10 died on the mission and are buried together at Arlington National Cemetery.

Growing up in Ukiah, California, Leamon was involved in the 4-H program, youth baseball, and high school football, according to his obituary posted in the Ukiah Daily Journal in November 2009.

Leamon attended Mendocino College, in Mendocino County, California before enlisting in the U.S. Navy where he served in naval intelligence and achieved the rank of petty officer first class. After earning a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Maryland, Leamon joined the DEA as a Special Agent in 2002.

In 2008, Leamon married Ana Laura Lopez. They were expecting their first child when Leamon died.

 

Leamon is survived by parents Richard and Sue Leamon of Fortuna, Calif., sister Heather Leamon of Burney, Calif., sister Wai Leamon of Redding, Calif., nephews

and niece William, Alan, Andrew, and Rayah Leamon all of Burney, Calif., his grandmother Arlene Oldham of Citrus Heights, Calif., as well as aunts, uncles, and cousins, the obituary stated.

The Prince William County Veterans Commission voted and approved to add Agent Leamon’s name to the War Memorial Wall.