Plaque Dedicated for Yorktown Soldier Killed in Afghanistan
A bronze plaque was dedicated Sunday under a tree at Patriot Garden behind Yorktown Town Hall in honor of a former town resident who was killed in Afghanistan last year during Operation Enduring Freedom.
The solemn ceremony, attended by several hundred residents and dignitaries, paid tribute to Army Spc.David R. Fahey, Jr., 23, who died February 28, 2011 after an explosive device exploded underneath a Humvee he was driving in Afghanistan with two other soldiers, who were critically injured.
“It’s a little solace we can give to this family. Putting a plaque here is just a small token,” said Yorktown Supervisor Michael Grace. “Our soldiers are our freedoms refuge. Without them, not much else we do makes sense. We all must celebrate these men.”
Fahey enlisted in the Army on August 31, 2007 and was assigned to the 170th Military Police Company, 504th Military Police Battalion, 42nd Military Police Brigade. His unit was deployed to Afghanistan in June 2010. Fahey was planning to be a New York City police officer after leaving the Army.
Fahey and a younger sister and brother were raised by their uncle and aunt, Thomas and Frances Fahey, who adopted them after their father died. Thomas Fahey thanked the Yorktown community for the outpouring of support shown to his son.
“From the moment he was brought home, the honor was just incredible,” he said. “In my son’s passing, people have come up to me and I know everyone means well. Some people say why are we in Afghanistan? Why don’t we bring those men home? Those are the questions I asked myself the day we found out David was killed. The answer I tell people is we are in a battle of good and evil. The events of 9/11 where innocent lives were killed…there hasn’t been another terrorist attack since. That’s why we are there. They are protecting our freedoms as we go about our lives, facing death every day.”
Thomas Fahey urged everyone to remember the basic principles established by this country’s founding fathers.
“God’s amazing grace, that’s what this country was founded on,” he said. “Many men and women have given their lives for this country and for what it stands for. David fought the good fight. He knows the saving grace of Jesus Christ. My family knows the saving grace of Jesus Christ. I pray no more plaques have to come here.”
Among the honors David Fahey has received are the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart and the Combat Action Badge. A plaque in his memory has also been dedicated along the Memorial Tree Walkway at Kensico Dam Plaza inValhalla.
Rick has more than 40 years’ experience covering local news in Westchester and Putnam counties, running the gamut from politics and crime to sports and human interest. He has been an editor at Examiner Media since 2012. Read more from Rick’s editor-author bio here. Read Rick’s work here: https://www.theexaminernews.com/author/pezzullo_rick-writer/
