Fort Rucker Associate Accepts Overdue Honor for Her Late Soldier Father
During the celebration of the Exchange’s 130th anniversary at the Fort Rucker PX, another tribute occurred—this one a long overdue honor for an Exchange associate’s father.
Clyde Anthony Jones was born Jan. 1, 1966, in Bunnell, Florida. He served his country with honor and distinction in the Army. As a sergeant in the 101st Airborne Division, he led his squad with valor and served as a Green Beret during Operation Desert Storm.
After his military service, Jones pursued a career in health care, earning an associate of science degree in respiratory therapy from Daytona Beach Community College. He later worked at Florida Hospital Ormond Memorial in the Daytona Beach area, continuing his commitment to helping others.
Clyde passed away on Jan. 12, 2006. He is survived by his beloved daughters, Aliyah and Keywanna Jones. When he passed, both daughters were very young, and due to circumstances at the time, the ceremonial flag honoring his military service was presented to a non-family member overseeing the funeral services.
Nearly two decades later, on July 25, the tribute was made right. Through the efforts of Command Sgt. Maj. (Ret.) Mike Sutterfield, the local chapter commander of Disabled American Veterans , a special flag ceremony was organized. In a gesture of honor and remembrance, the flag was formally presented to Keywanna Jones by Garrison Command Sgt. Maj. Gary Williams. Jones, a food service worker at the Fort Rucker Exchange Qdoba, accepted the flag on behalf of her family.
“Receiving the flag meant a lot to me,” Jones said. “It helped bandage a broken heart, and I finally got a piece of hope. Receiving it from Soldiers who were also Airborne like my father made the moment so much more special.”
Sutterfield said the presentation was a privilege.
“While presenting a flag to a dependent child of a deceased Veteran is not the norm, it was an honor to recognize Ms. Keywanna with a flag and provide her some closure from her father’s passing when she was younger,” he said. “The Veteran community of Fort Rucker is always willing to assist Veterans and their families when and where the need arises.”
Keywanna Jones, a food service worker at the Fort Rucker Exchange Qdoba, accepts a ceremonial flag honoring her father’s Army service. Keywanna’s father, Clyde Anthony Jones, passed away in 2006, when Keywanna and her sister were very young, and the flag was presented to a non-family member overseeing the funeral services. On July 25, Keywanna accepted the flag on behalf of her family. Pictured from left are Fort Rucker Garrison Command Sgt. Maj. J. Gary Williams; Keywanna Jones; Command Sgt. Maj (Ret) Brandi Whitman, Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs board member; and Command Sgt. Maj. (Ret) Mike Sutterfield, local chapter commander of Disabled American Veterans, who led efforts to organize the flag ceremony.
