Tropic Lighting Road renamed to honor fallen Soldier

BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan —Soldiers in Task Force Freedom gather in the city of Kandahar to honor the life of U.S. Army Sgt. Demetrius Void, 20-year old native from Orangeburg, S.C., attached to the 57th Expeditionary Signal Battalion, 11th Signal Brigade, III Corps, Fort Hood, Texas, at a street dedication ceremony held on Kandahar Air Field, Afghanistan, March 10.

The incident that changed the lives of those who knew Void, will now be marked by ‘Sgt. Demetrius Void Lane’, in a dedication ceremony renaming Tropic Lightning Boulevard to honor him. This road is where a vehicle struck Void, as he was jogging. Void later passed away due to injuries sustained during this incident on Sept. 15, 2009.

U.S. Army Col. Randall W. Bland, Commander, 7th Theater Tactical Signal Brigade, said, “Today we rename Tropic Lightning Boulevard in honor of a young man whose life had so much promise and so much purpose.”

U.S. Army Lt. Col. James D. DeNardo, Commander 57th ESB, U.S. Army Capt. Ronald H. King, Alpha Company Commander, 57th ESB, and Void’s friend, U.S. Army Spc. Aspen Kukulka, 57^th ESB, shared sentiments during the ceremony.

“Thanks to the cooperation and coordination of the 649th Regional Support group command, Kandahar Airfield we are able to conduct this event in the efforts of preserving the memory of Sgt. Void,” said U.S. Army Command Sgt. Major Bobbie Brown Jr., 57th ESB.

“Void made the ultimate sacrifice in a foreign land supporting and advancing ideas that were bigger than he,” said Bland. “Just like you, Sgt. Void risked his today’s so that others may have a brighter tomorrow.”

As a result of this event, North Atlantic Treaty Organization commanders moved fast to prevent this reoccurrence through road safety improvements, pedestrian crosswalks, night lights in visually impaired areas, and the help of military police, who diligently enforced traffic rules and regulations.

Other honors awarded to Void include: the posthumous promotion to sergeant, the Bronze Star Medal, U.S. Army Commendation Medal, U.S. Army Achievement Medal-1 Oak Leaf Cluster, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, NATO Service Medal, Afghanistan Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, and the Gold Order of Mercury for his service.

Void is survived by his mother, two brothers, and a family line of men and women who served in the military, him being the first to go to war and not come home.

“Let us remember, let us honor, and let us celebrate all he gave by cherishing our tomorrows by respecting the legacy of Sgt. Demetrius Void,” said Bland. “Take care of yourselves and take care of each other.”