Sharing the loss

"Community pulls together to support family of fallen soldier"
Jayne Boykin
The Duncan Banner

DUNCAN — When GayLynn McCormick helped to organize the Duncan chapter of Blue Star Mothers of America in 2008, she never realized how close war would strike to the Duncan community.
After the death of Spc. Dennis Pratt on July 20 in Afghanistan was announced, McCormick and her group quickly mobilized to assist the Pratt family. The Blue Star Mothers became the clearinghouse for offers of support, information and other assistance for the family and the community in general as the people of Duncan came together to honor one of their own.The Blue Star Mothers were not alone, however. A Duncan woman whose husband has been in the Army for 23 years and who has helped support many Army families in time of loss called The Banner and was placed in contact with McCormick’s group. Rochelle Fetterley refers to herself as “just an Army wife.” Dennis Pratt’s funeral was the 201st military funeral Fetterley has attended since 2004. Because of her experience with grieving families and her ties with Army wives at Fort Sill, Fetterley had resources to add to what the Blue Star Mothers were doing."

The Duncan Banner - Sharing the loss: