Bearing the cost: Mother honored for son’s service in Iraq

Bearing the cost: Mother honored for son’s service in Iraq

J.D. Gallop, FLORIDA TODAY 6:04 p.m. EDT August 9, 2015






Family members and friends braved the warm afternoon temperatures Sunday to celebrate the service of a fallen Army hero and to honor his mother.

The ceremony was made even more poignant because the mother – Jo Kennedy – has been diagnosed with late stage cancer.

“They tell me the prognosis is not good, but I keep jovial,” Kennedy told FLORIDA TODAY.

“My son, if he were alive today, would be a grandfather twice, his second son just had a daughter and I plan to see that baby,” she said, of her newborn great-granddaughter McKenzie.

Sunday, Honor and Remember, Inc., Space Coast Chapter of American Gold Star Mothers and other organizations arranged to present her with a flag in recognition of her sacrifice stemming from the loss of her son, Army Sgt. First Class Stephen C. Kennedy. He was killed during a patrol in April 2005 following an ambush near Balad Ruz, Iraq.

Stephen Kennedy, who also fought in the first Gulf War as a U.S. Marine before joining the army, was one of 4,400 U.S. servicemen to die in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

“We’re presented a special flag to honor her,” said Donn Weaver, an organizer and volunteer for Honor and Remember, Inc., a national organization that promotes remembering fallen servicemen. “We had a great turnout and Jo Kennedy was very brave and strong.”

The organizations learned of Jo Kennedy’s dire medical diagnosis and quickly moved to order her a ceremonial flag, with a blue and gold star outlined against a red field backdrop, was designed for Honor and Remember, Inc.

The ceremony began with about 40 to 50 members of the Rolling Thunder motorcycle club holding a two-mile procession that led to her Rockledge home. There were also three other Gold Star mothers – those women who lost a son or daughter to a military conflict - who attended the event at the Kennedy home. A Gold Star Mother’s Day luncheon is also slated for Sept. 27, organizers say. The Kennedy’s say they hope to attend.

“It was amazing,” said 69-year-old Robert Kennedy of Sunday’s presentation for his wife.

“I think it’s wonderful that they took the time to honor her. There’s a lot going on in the world and for them to spend time with us, it’s just wonderful,” he said.

Jo Kennedy, 66, was also moved by the ceremony, adding that not a day doesn’t go by when she doesn’t think about her son’s sacrifice.

“He always accepted challenges and loved the military. He loved his government,” she said.

Jo Kennedy, who has gone through chemotherapy and radiation, remains adamant that despite the discouraging prognosis from doctors she plans to continue sharing the story of her son’s life with others. “We were told about his death on his birthday. He died just two days before turning 36. His men idolized him,” she said.

“To see this, it was great.”


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