American Legion Honors Fallen GA National Guardsman

Some local veterans are honoring a fallen hero from Statesboro.

Sgt. Brock Chavers of the Georgia National Guard died July 6 in Afghanistan while supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. His body was returned to Georgia on July 15, and he was buried Saturday in Statesboro.

Chavers and his family are well-known in the Portal and Statesboro communities, and many are still mourning after he was killed earlier this month from an IED explosion.

The members of American Legion Post 28 in Statesboro invited the Chavers family for a small ceremony in honor of the fallen Georgia National Guardsman.

"The idea originally came from the post commander here, Mr. Deon Hendrix, and myself, and the reason we wanted to honor him, we wanted to do something that we felt was personal because the two of us knew him," said member Willie Oglesby.

Post 28 members presented Chavers' mother with a replica of a plaque that will hang in the lodge in honor of their good friend and outstanding citizen.

"Upbeat, full of joy, he had no gloomy days, he had no bad days, always wore a smile. You know, he was the type of young man, a soldier, that if he had you had. Quite frankly being a veteran and proud serviceman, we need a lot more men like that," said Oglesby.

"It makes me feel good to know that people really care, and they want to remember him, and they're going to make sure they remember because they're going to hang a picture here in the Lodge, so he'll always be remembered," said Brock's mother Loice Chavers.

They say it's just one way to say thanks for those who gave so much.

"This is an event to show how the American Legion family honors all veterans, especially those of our various posts. You know for a service member to give his life for his country, what else can we say but thank you, and we appreciate it, and we're here to help his family from here on out," said Commander Dennis Fitzgerald of the American Legion 1st District of Georgia.

"We here in Statesboro and the county of Bulloch lost a true, true genuine hero," said Oglesby.

Chavers is survived by his wife and three year-old son. His wife is in the same National Guard unit. Two of his older brothers are also in the National Guard, and his youngest brother is serving in the Army.