A Fort Bragg soldier who died in Afghanistan last year will be honored Saturday during an event at the Airborne & Special Operations Museum.
Along with that soldier’s wife, the Folded Flag Foundation will host an “Evening of Honor” and paver dedication recognizing Spc. Chris Harris, who died Aug. 2, 2017. The event will be from 6 to 10 p.m. at the museum at 100 Bragg Blvd. The Folded Flag Foundation is a nonprofit that provides scholarships to Gold Star families.
Harris, 25, of Jackson Springs in Moore County, was killed when his patrol vehicle was struck by an improvised explosive device. Sgt. Jonathan Michael Hunter, 23, from Columbus, Indiana, also died in the explosion.
Harris joined the Army in October 2013 as an infantryman, then became a paratrooper in the “Devil” Brigade. He was with the 82nd Airborne Division’s 2nd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team at the time he was killed.
Days before his death, Harris learned he would become a father.
His wife, Britt Harris, later involved his deployed unit in the gender reveal in October and in a May photoshoot with the couple’s daughter. Christian Michelle Harris was born on March 17, the day Chris Harris’ unit returned to Fort Bragg.
To commemorate Chris Harris’ legacy, Britt Harris and Christian will dedicate his paver at 6:30 p.m. in front of the Iron Mike statue at the museum.
A representative of Black Knight, a corporate sponsor for the Folded Flag Foundation, saw Britt Harris’ story, and the foundation reached out during the past year. The Folded Flag Foundation provides scholarships to survivors of those killed in combat, from preschool to the doctorate level, said Tom Rankin, operations manager for the Folded Flag Foundation.
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