A Real American Hero...A Sad, Sad Day

Sadness hit our community over the Thanksgiving holidays. A friend and fellow employee of Mark's was killed in action while in Bagdad. Sgt. First Class James Priestap, known to his friends as Jim was member of the 46th Military Police National Guard Unit out of Kingsford, MI. He sustained a fatal gunshot wound on Thanksgiving Day. He is truly a hero. We had the privaledge of knowing him as he was a officer on the VA Police force while not on active duty with the military.

Jim will have a full military funeral on Monday in Kingsford. Jim leaves behind a wife, Connie and two young children and many relatives and friends. He was 39. We will miss you Jim. Thank you for your sacrafice.

Just a note, I took this picture while he was speaking at the Veterans Day program on November 11, 2005.