MANILLA, Iowa (KTIV) -
It was over a year ago, that the town of Manilla, Iowa, lost one of its own in Afghanistan.
Sunday, the students he graduated with, IKM's class of ‘97, celebrated their 15th reunion, making sure not to forget their fallen friend.
Staff Sergeant James Justice died while aiding fallen pilots in Afghanistan in April of 2011. One pilot survived and fellow troop members say that's all because of Justice's courage.
"He knew how to take care of soldiers; he knew how to lead soldiers. And in our profession that's a really important thing," said SSgt. Ben Doyle of the U.S. Army National Guard.
At their reunion Sunday, his classmates dedicated a bronze fallen soldier statue, along with a picture of Justice in Manilla's Bandshell Park.
"This is something for his family, and for the community of Manilla," said Mark Benge, a classmate and organizer of the ceremony. "To get a chance to you know, come by and say hi, once in a while."
"When I started sending out some messages, saying hey, who wants to ride. It was, uh, duh. So, everybody that could ride is here and everybody that could be here is here," said Doyle.
Fifteen years after he graduated from IKM high school, and joined the military, memories of Justice linger.
"I think he was just constantly trying to make other people laugh and make sure that they were happy," said Heather Heiman, a classmate who'd known him since before kindergarten.
"The bubbly personality. He could always make anybody laugh, no matter what was going on, he always brought a smile to everybody," said Capt. Jason Knueven of the U.S. Army National Guard.
In the small town where he was born, the memories are still fresh. Their goal now: to ensure that James Justice is never forgotten.
"It'll be nice. Any time that I come home, I can try to remember him. It'll be nice to come here and know that people are still thinking about him," said Heiman.
There's a bar in Manilla, called Juice's (Justice's nickname). Pictures of Justice adorn the walls inside.
A quilt was added to the inventory Sunday that will further increase his imprint on the town.
