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Family, friends and students packed an upstate high school gym this afternoon to hear the official word about the naming of a Navy warship after a local hero.
Secretary of the Navy Donald Winters announced during his visit to tiny Scio in Allegany County that the newest guided missile destroyer will be named the U-S-S Jason Dunham.
Dunham's parents and siblings were at today's ceremony. His mother was asked to christen the ship when it's commissioned in 2010.
"Thousands of young men and women will step foot on that ship and they'll know who Jason Dunham is And their family will know who he is. It's a big honor for community, and a big honor for the Dunham family. What a wonderful family they are. And they'll be the first to tell you that every kid over in Iraq, every kid in the military, is a hero," said Scio Supervisor Dan Fleming.
Dunham graduated from High School in Scio, 65 miles southeast of Buffalo. He died in 2004 a week after throwing himself on a grenade that an Iraqi insurgent had tossed toward his group of Marines.
Military officials say Dunham's actions saved the lives of two other men in his unit.
Earlier this year, his heroic deed was recognized by President Bush, who presented Jason's parents with the Congressional Medal of Honor at a White House ceremony.
"He wanted to make sure that everyone makes it home alive. Corporal Dunham took that promise seriously. And would give his own life to make it good," said President Bush.
Senator Charles Schumer called the destroyer naming "another fitting tribute to his life and humbling heroism."
WGRZ and AP