He grew up in our current ward and his parents (and siblings) are in our ward now. Andy and I have never met him but we were amazed at the out pouring of love the whole community has showed toward him and his family. I don't know if it's a small town thing (yes, I think Athens is a small town) or a fallen soldier thing, either way I think it is wonderful.

We took food to the Chapel while the service was going on. I could not believe how many people lined the streets. There were American Flags in the ground everywhere. It was an amazing sight to see. An older lady asked me if I knew Josh and I told her I did not and she thanked me for bringing food. I asked her if she knew Josh and she too had never met him. Yet here she was on a Saturday morning waiting outside to pay her tributes.


On September 21, 2007, Joshua Jackson Reeves was born. His mother, Leslie Reeves, phoned her husband, Josh, in Iraq to tell him the happy news. Spc. Joshua H. Reeves was able to hear his son cry before the phone call ended.

Spc. Joshua H. Reeves was killed the next day, September 22, 2007, when a bomb detonated near his vehicle.

The community support was unbelievable. On the way to the funeral, hundreds of people lined up on the side of the road with hands over their hearts and flags waving. The Patriot Guard Riders, a group of bikers who attend funerals of fallen soldiers, stood at attention with flags to form a walkway to the chapel. Hundreds of people who had never met Josh lined the street to show support.