While U.S. Army Pvt. Byron Fouty is missing in Iraq, friends, family and other Orion community members gathered last Thursday night at the Orion Veterans Memorial to pray for his safe return.
Fouty, 19, has ties to the Orion and Oxford area and attended school here when he was younger. During his time in the area, he also played soccer on the Orion Oxford Soccer League and participated in Parks & Recreation events.
He graduated from Walled Lake Central High School and his listed address is in Waterford.
His stepfather, Gordy Dibler Jr., an Oxford resident, drives by the memorial on his way to work each day and asked to hold the gathering there.
He thanked members of the Orion and Oxford communities for helping Fouty develop into the man that he is today.
The gathering was carried by all of the local television news outlets as well as CNN.
‘Initially, we didn’t realize there was an Orion tie, but he spent some time growing up here,? Township Supervisor Jerry Dywasuk said, noting his prayers were with Fouty’s family.
‘It puts a real face and feeling on the war,? he said.
Reports indicate that Fouty went missing along with three other soldiers in mid-May. Two bodies have been recovered.
Fouty and Spc. Alex Jimenez (of Massachusetts) remain missing at press time. Orion Veterans Memorial board member Joe Mastromatteo said pictures of all four soldiers were present at the ceremony.
‘I can’t tell you of the anguish my daughter and my family feels,? Dibler said, noting the close relationship Fouty had with his sister.
‘I can’t take a breath without thinking about him,? he added. ‘We want him home.?
While Fouty remains missing, Dibler asks the community to continue to keep him in their thoughts and thanked them for the prayers and heartfelt support they have already offered.
‘It was really touching,? Dywasuk said of the event. ‘The nice thing was that they thought the Veterans Memorial was the place to do it.?
The memorial hosted a Memorial Day ceremony on Monday afternoon as well. Dywasuk said there are about 40 soldiers currently serving with Orion ties, and all were honored at the ceremony.
‘It was the biggest ceremony we’ve ever had,? Mastromatteo noted, estimating over 200 people attended.
Mastromatteo added that those passing by the memorial (at the corner of Odanah and M-24) might notice some ribbons around the exterior.
‘The parents and friends and family put those yellow ribbons along M-24 in (Fouty’s) honor,? he said. ‘We decided to leave them up for the time being.?
Fouty spent time in both grade school and high school in Lake Orion schools, according to Mastromatteo.