LEE COUNTY, GA (WALB) -
Fallen Marine Lance Corporal Steven Sutton will be honored before Lee County High's first home football game.
Lance Corporal Sutton was killed in Afghanistan in May.
And as work continues to raise money for a monument for him, a skeet shooting competition is planned.
Sutton's family says it is remarkable the way the community came together to honor Big Steve Sutton following his death in May. But it's even more comforting that they have not forgotten him, but still remember him as a hero.
The 8th Marines Charlie Company, Lance Corporal Steven Sutton's company, returned home from Afghanistan this month. Sutton's best friend from the Marines, Corporal Joe Murray,and his wife Gayle and son Isaac, came to Leesburg to visit Toni and Steven's family. The company saw the way South Georgia honored Sutton at his funeral, lining miles of roads for the funeral procession.
Murray said "It was awesome for me and all the other guys to see just how the community was doing for him. For Toni and all the family, it was awesome to see that."
Sutton has not been forgotten. His alma mater, Lee County High School, will hold a memorial service before their home opening football game September 7th, dedicating the season to the former Trojan lineman.
Widow Toni Sutton said "He was all about the Lee County football. He wanted to go watch them practice. Everytime we were home if he could, he would. He loved his football. He loved Lee County."
The Albany Skeet Club is also planning a tournament September 15th, raising money for a Battlefield Cross Memorial to be built for Sutton.
Father Gene Sutton said "Overwhelming, you know really. I could not believe the people taking it on themselves to take up money for him, and things like that."
Lee County High's Football team will dedicate their season to Big Steve, and wear decals on their helmets to honor him, and tell his story.
Lee County High School Kevin Dowling said "What's that sticker? Well that's a discussion point. We can talk about what that is and who he was and what he did."
Murray was with Sutton on his final mission in Afghanistan, and said Sutton died a hero. Killed rushing to help a corpsman who had been injured in one IED explosion, when a second explosion killed him.
Murray said "If someone needed help, he was the first one there. And so that was what he died doing, he was helping."
Toni and Gene received Purple Hearts for Sutton at a memorial service at Camp Lejeune last weekend. His memory lives on. Four month old Isaac is Big Steve Sutton's god son. Toni says Isaac will always have a big guardian angel looking over him.
A final decision on where to erect Lance Corporal Sutton's Battlefield Cross Statue haven't been made. Toni Sutton and people in the community are selling these bracelets to raise the money for it. Another way to remember him.
The high school football season dedication for Steve Sutton will be at 7 PM September 7th, a half hour before the Trojans home opening football game against Albany High.
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