Hopewell salutes fallen Air Force sergeant

HOPEWELL -- When Air Force Tech. Sgt. Phillip Andrew Myers was attending Hopewell High School, his class song was "Lean on Me."

"I believe this is what Phillip always said," classmate Alton Jamison said yesterday in the school's auditorium. "You can lean on me."

More than 180 people -- family and strangers, uniformed and not -- gathered in the school to remember Myers, an explosive ordnance disposal technician killed April 4 near Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was 30.

"From the [Hopewell High] Blue Devils to the blue uniform, Phillip was a first-class gentleman," Jamison said.

The class of 1996 was close, like a family, he said. "Sometimes the reality of war never affects you until it happens in your family," Jamison said.

The curious and polite Myers, who took summer school English so he could graduate a year early, was killed while dismantling a roadside bomb as part of Operation Enduring Freedom.

He was assigned to the 48th Civil Engineer Squadron with the Royal Air Force in Lakenheath, England, where he lived with his wife, Aimee, daughter Dakotah, 5, and son Kaiden, 2.

"This Memorial Day is for Phillip," said Donna Ellis, representing America Legion Auxiliary Unit 146 and organizer of the memorial service.

Myers' family in attendance -- his father, brother, aunt, uncle and others -- did not speak during the service. His family in London could not attend, and his mother, who lives in North Carolina, was ill and could not make the trip.

"A piece of their heart has been taken away, never to get back," said Ellis.

His wife allowed the media to report on the arrival of his coffin in April at Dover Air Force Base, Del., the first such coverage since the Pentagon lifted an 18-year ban. His mother said at the time the coverage was allowed because Myers believed in his role and would want the public to see the dignity with which the war dead are returned.

Myers had previously served in Iraq and Kuwait. He also conducted sweeps for bombs to protect then-President George W. Bush in Washington.

During his career, he earned the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star of Valor.

He was scheduled to leave Afghanistan in mid-May and, after serving most of his career overseas, return to the states to report to Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico.

Throughout the service, scenes of Myers' life played out on a slideshow.

Myers on a motorcycle. Myers leading a horse. Myers with a pregnant Aimee, then his children.

There were also pictures of his flag-draped coffin arriving home, of it being lead down a solemn pathway at Arlington National Cemetery, and, finally, into the ground.

Jerry Ellis of Veterans of Foreign War Post 637 said there was a saying among veterans: "All give some, some give all."

"Tech. Sgt. Myers gave all, not in death, but in life," he said.

During the service, it was not "Lean on Me" that echoed through the school auditorium, but "America the Beautiful," "God Bless the USA" and taps.

"I believe God was in need of an angel when he called Phillip home," Donna Ellis said.

Contact Emily C. Dooley at (804) 649-6016 or .