Lawmakers pay tribute to fallen Utah soldiers from 2014


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SALT LAKE CITY — Miranda Colledge’s husband was serving in Iraq when he missed the birth of their daughter.

Sgt. Jake Colledge was deployed to Iraq with the Utah Army National Guard from May 2006 to May 2007. During that time, his daughter, Avry, was born. Today, 7-year-old Avry has a 4-year-old brother, D.J.

But Avry and D.J. lost their dad on Veterans Day last year.

“He was the smartest, strongest, most caring person I knew,” said Miranda Colledge, of Lehi. “He was very respected, very strong-willed. He was a teacher at Camp Williams, and he loved his students and passing along his knowledge.”

Sgt. Colledge was one of 19 fallen Utah soldiers recognized by lawmakers Friday at the Capitol. According Gov. Gary Herbert’s office, Utah’s military endured no combat-related deaths in 2014. The 19 losses were due to accidents, illnesses and suicides.

Colledge said her husband died in his sleep last year, and the family does not yet know a cause of death. Friday’s ceremony “brought back the hurt," she said, "but also the privilege of knowing what he did and how he served.”

“I’m just happy to be here, and it’s great that everybody’s so loving and warm,” she said. “It means a lot to be here with other people who know what you’re going through and the sacrifices that were made for everybody.”

The soldiers and their families were honored in the House and Senate chambers, as well as a ceremony in the Capitol's Gold Room with Herbert and Maj. Gen. Jefferson Burton, adjutant general of the Utah National Guard.

During the ceremonies, families held portraits of their lost loved ones.

Lana Morse holds a photo of her husband, Jeromy, as families of fallen Utah soldiers are honored at the state Capitol in Salt Lake City Friday, Feb. 27, 2015. (Photo: Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News)
Lana Morse holds a photo of her husband, Jeromy, as families of fallen Utah soldiers are honored at the state Capitol in Salt Lake City Friday, Feb. 27, 2015. (Photo: Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News)

“Courage is not confined to the field of battle,” Rep. Justin Fawson, R-North Ogden, said in the House chamber. “It is found in every home that has sent a soldier off in service of our country. It is in the heart of every patriot who has honored this nation.”

Fawson got emotional as he addressed the families directly in the House.

“You have been through unthinkable grief,” he said. “May God grant you his lasting peace, and may you know of our love and solemn respect for you and those you lost.”

Sen. Allen Christensen, R-North Ogden, called honoring 2014’s fallen soldiers his toughest assignment of the session.

"They weren't planning to give their lives, but that’s how it worked out. That's how it ended up," he said to the families on the Senate floor.

Christensen said his faith tells him that death is not the end; it's just a change.

"We all have to suffer the pain of separation," he said, "but life goes on, and, fortunately, time softens that pain."

Herbert acknowledged the “tragedy of mortality” and the challenges of serving in the military that brought the families together.

“With tender feelings that we all have at this time, we need to celebrate the good work and service of our men and women in uniform for what they’ve done to make us proud to represent the country … and the ideals that we stand for in a significant way,” he said.

In addition to Sgt. Colledge, soldiers honored Friday were: Spc. Ryan T. Christensen, Spc. Kolby B. Horton, Pvt. Austin S. Rhinehart, Lt. j.g. William G. Heaps, Sgt. Alison B. Ramsey, Cameron J. Pozernick, Staff Sgt. Aaron S. Parker, 1st Lt. James R. Handley, Spc. John D. Painter, Sgt. John L. Avery, Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Michael R. Campbell, Spc. Jared Tolman, Master Sgt. Jeromy J. Morse, Staff Sgt. David B. Lyon, Pfc. Garrett R. Fox, Sgt. 1st Class Paul Schultzman, Staff Sgt. Derek F. Ramos, and Staff Sgt. Nicolas R. McGehee.

Contributing: Dennis Romboy


Katie McKellar is a Dixie State University graduate with a bachelor of science in mass communication. Before interning at Deseret News, she reported and edited news content for Dixie Sun News, first as Photo Editor, then as Features Editor. Email: kmckellar@deseretnews.com

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