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Published Sunday, December 13, 2009 in Local

Photo by Elizabeth Melville

Amber, the wife of the late Lance Cpl. Jeffery Steven Blanton — who was killed in Iraq — shared poignant memories of her husband at a road dedication ceremony Saturday in Senoia. The event marked the fifth anniversary of his death.

Blanton: 'The very definition of a hero'

By Elizabeth Melville

The Newnan Times-Herald

Friends, family members and complete strangers packed the Senoia Masonic Lodge Saturday to honor a fallen U.S. Marine.

Lance Cpl. Jeffery Steven Blanton was killed in Iraq on Dec. 12, 2004.

On Saturday, Senator Mitch Seabaugh presented Blanton's family with commemorative highway signs bearing his name. A highway sign at Line Creek on Georgia Highway 85 at the Coweta-Fayette county line has been dedicated the Jeffery Steven Blanton Memorial Highway.

Blanton's wife, Amber, spoke during the dedication and described her late husband as "a Marine's marine." She recalled how the two met in 2004 in Hawaii. She was a soldier stationed there at the same time he was there with the Marine Corps. He pursued her relentlessly, and they were married on Feb. 29, 2004.

Amber and Jeff had a dynamic relationship as soldier and marine. As newlyweds, she was deployed to Afghanistan and, two months later, he was deployed to Iraq. She found out from a family member that he had been shot in the foot in the line of duty. When he finally called her about a week after the incident, he said, excitedly, "I'm getting a purple heart -- that's great!" She instructed him not to get another.

However, Blanton was eager to return to his team of "brothers." His wife last spoke to him on Dec. 10, 2004, and he'd said he was happy to be rejoining his team. Amber's battalion commander was the one to deliver the tragic news two days later that he was mortally wounded by enemy fire.

"Jeffery, to me, was untouchable, invincible ..." she said, her words trailing off into tears.

She said that the two were so mindful and respectful of their roles as soldier and marine that they didn't allow themselves a show of emotion when she left for Afghanistan. It was a short goodbye. Now, she wishes she'd lingered in that moment a little longer as husband and wife.

"Seeing the community here means so much," she said. "Jeffery always thought something should be named after him -- this one's for you, baby."

Blanton's father, Steve, organized much of the day's tribute, and also said a few emotional words about his son.

"He's with us," said Steve.

Harold Simmons, a marine and family friend, recalled the transformation Blanton underwent when he made the decision to join the Marines.

"I want to thank him for serving his country and giving his life for us," said Simmons.

Several others shared fond memories of Blanton, including a longtime neighbor, his former baseball coach and a leader of East Coweta High School's ROTC program.

Blanton's uncle shared a poem he penned shortly after learning of his nephew's death. He called Jeffery "the very definition of a hero."

Seabaugh said a few words to the family before presenting them with the commemorative highway signs.

"He was willing to take on a uniform to fight for our country," he said. "I feel the loss today. There's nothing we could say or do to properly say thank you, but we do the best we can to honor him."

Seabaugh hopes the sign will serve as a reminder to the community to honor these men and women. After all, he said, it is the community's task to honor this fallen marine and "the family members who walk with a piece of their hearts missing."