I would like to express my deepest sympathies to the Famly and Friends of SGT Wier.  Know in your hearts that he is a true American Hero.  I pray that  God eases the  pain that all of you are feeling.

Sgt. Wier, Thank you for stepping up to the plate and keeping us safe.  You paid the ultimate sacrifice, you will never be forgotten.  I also will see you on the Fiddlers Green.

It would be a great honor for me to ride in your honor.
Standing by in Asheville, NC

Charles R Poteet  ( E troop, 11ACR ...remembering  47 lost troopers)

Prayers and condolences for family and friends of Sgt. Weir . His sacrifice will never be forgotten .
Standing by in Dallas Georgia .

Weir Tribute at Bear Stadium
Wednesday Evening

by Rich Dinsmore, Managing Editor

  Cleveland and Bradley County will pause Wednesday evening, September 20, to pay tribute to Sergeant David Weir, recently killed in action during a firefight with insurgents in Baghdad, Iraq.

  Family, friends and the community at large will gather at 7:00pm in Bear Stadium at Bradley Central High School for a tribute to SGT Weir, a BCHS 2001 graduate, and member of the famed 101^st Airborne Division (Air Assault), based in Fort Campbell, KY.

  SGT Weir was mortally wounded last Thursday, September 14 (Iraq local), while on a security mission to round-up a dozen suspected Al-Qaeda terrorists in Baghdad. A medic, responding to Weir to treat his injuries, was also wounded in the action.

  “The family has requested a private funeral service,” said Weir’s brother Chris, “so we thought a public service for the community would be appropriate. The community has been so gracious and compassionate to us since this happened that we felt we should let them participate in a public service for our brother, who was, obviously loved by hundreds of people here in Cleveland and Bradley County.”

  The service has turned into a tribute to the memory, service and sacrifice of SGT Weir, and will give area residents the opportunity to not only participate in the event, but to meet and personally extend condolences to the Weir family, who have stated that they want to make themselves available to everyone in Bradley County who wants to share a David Weir story, or a moment with the family reflecting on what the defense of freedom really means, and the costs that are paid.

  The evening will begin with the gates and parking opening to the public at about 5:30pm at Bradley Central high School. The evening’s activities, so far, will be as follows:

OPENING: Master of Ceremonies Steve Hartline, Tennessee’s Mix 104.1 FM Radio (WCLE-FM)POSTING OF THE NATIONAL COLORS: Apache Troop, 278^th Regimental Combat Team, (formerly ACR), Tennessee Army National Guard, Cleveland/Bradley Armory.
NATIONAL ANTHEM: Megan Roberts, family & friend.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIENCE: Tayrn Burgraff, 10-years old, David Weir’s niece & Bo Still, Apache Troop, 278^th Regimental Combat Team (formerly ACR), Tennessee Army National Guard, Cleveland/Bradley Armory.
INVOCATION: Pastor Gwinn Green, Kinser Church of God.
CITY & COUNTY PROCLAMATION: Cleveland Mayor Tom Rowland & Bradley County Mayor D. Gary Davis.
SPEAKERS: Eric Watson, State Representative; Dewayne Bunch, State Representative.
MUSIC: “God Bless the USA” – Oak Grove Elementary School Show Choir featuring Lucas Parker.
SPEAKERS: David’s teachers: Oak Grove Elementary; Trewhitt Junior; Bradley Central High schools.
REMARKS: Marc Whitmire, life-long best friend of SGT David Weir.
FAMILY ADDRESS: Chris Weir, David’s older brother will speak on behalf of the family – Lynn (Father), Jackie (Mother), Missy (Sister), Timothy (Brother), and Jeffery (Brother), and others.
LOWERING OF THE NATIONAL COLORS: Apache Troop, 278^th Regimental Combat Team (formerly ACR), Tennessee Army National Guard, Cleveland/Bradley Armory.
MUSIC: “Amazing Grace” – TBA.
21-GUN SALUTE (Funeral Volley): Chattanooga Military Funeral Honors Detail, 196^th Brigade, Tennessee Army National Guard.
TAPS: Mr. Rick Donegan, SGT Weir’s music teacher at Oak Grove Elementary and Trewhitt Junior High schools.
BENEDICTION: Pastor Gwinn Green, Kinser Church of God.
INVITATION TO MEET THE WEIR FAMILY: Attendees are invited to come onto the field and see pictures and other mementos of David Weir, see a video tribute to SGT Weir produced by Oak Grove Elementary School, and meet the Weir Family.
 The order of events listed above are subject to change. In the event of rain, the event may be moved indoors to the Jim Smiddy Arena, next to Bear Stadium.

  There is no charge for attending the event or for parking; however, donations will be taken for the “David Weir Memorial Fund.” The fund has been created to provide David’s son Gavin with a financial base for college or career establishment and enhancement as he graduates high school and begins his life as an adult. The fund will be administered by Southern Heritage Bank in Cleveland and donations can be sent to: David Weir Memorial Fund, PO Box 4730, Cleveland, TN., 37320-4730.

Many thanks to this brave patriot soldier who gave his life so that we could sleep well without worrying about someone attacking us or our loved ones.  We will never forget your selfless sacrifice.  Sgt. David Weir, you will not be forgotton.  Your watch is over.  Now it is your time to rest.

Sgt. Weir's family will be in our prayers.

by Rich Dinsmore,
Managing Editor

  As family and friends continued to deal with the emotional news that SGT David Weir had been killed in Iraq, they were also beginning to learn more about the circumstances that surrounded his death, and that David was being hailed as a hero by his fellow soldiers and commanders.

  While making plans for a memorial service to honor their son, brother and husband, the Weir family also learned that David was being awarded not only the Purple Heart, but a Bronze Star Medal as well. The Bronze Star is awarded for valor and when the information about the battle that took his life began to surface it became evident that David was indeed a hero.

  According to reports from his unit, Company “C”, 1/61^st Brigade, 506^th Regimental Combat Team, 101^st Airborne Division (Air Assault), SGT Weir’s actions that day most probably saved the lives of as many as three of his fellow soldiers and were a major reason the mission was successful.

  The unit’s after action reports note that Weir’s patrol had been operating for about two hours, hunting about a dozen insurgents thought to be Al-Qaeda in Baghdad. In what has been described as a running gun battle at times, eleven of the suspected terrorists had been killed when a final burst of gunfire from a twelfth found SGT Weir, mortally wounding the young sergeant and wounding a medic who had come to his aid.

  According to his Brigade commander, Lieutenant Colonel Winski, “Sergeant Weir stepped up when the need was greatest and went beyond the normal duty to protect his fellow soldiers and take the fight to the enemy,” during the height of the gun battle. Apparently the last of the twelve insurgents, who was captured alive, fired off a final burst from his AK-47 assault rifle, hitting and fatally wounding SGT. Weir, and wounding the medic who came to Weir’s immediate aid.

  Reports from the Brigade headquarters, still incomplete and subject to confirmation, indicate that Weir was picked up by a Medevac helicopter but died enroute to the aid station. The medic was treated for his wounds and transported to Germany for further treatment.

  The family received word late Saturday afternoon that Weir was to be posthumously promoted to Sergeant and awarded the bronze Star Medal and the Purple Heart Medal, along with the Global War on Terrorism Medal, the Combat Infantryman’s Badge, Operation Enduring Freedom Medal, Operation Iraqi Freedom Medal and others.

  A complete report on the battle and SGT Weir’s individual actions of that day will be released after all the reports have been filed and the required investigation into his death has been completed.

  Upon learning of the Bronze Star Medal and Weir’s reported actions in the battle, David’s life-long friends, who have been at the family’s side since the news came of his death, said that they were not surprised. “That’s the kind of guy David was,” said Marc Whitmire, David’s best friend since grade school at Oak Grove. “If there was a job to be done, David was the guy you could count on to get it done. No matter what, he was a true friend - first, last and always.”