Marine Cpl. Justin Killingsworth hangs the dog tags of Marine Staff Sgt. Russell Slay on his son, Walker Slay, during funeral services today at the Houston National Cemetery. Russell Slay was the 100th Texan killed while serving in Iraq. Behind the boy is his ex-wife Christine Slay and his mother, Donna Slay.
http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/metropolitan/2909843After getting orders to report for a second tour of duty in Iraq, U.S. Marine Staff Sgt. Russell Slay told family and friends he didn't think he would make it back.
His premonition proved true as he became the 100th Texas service member killed in the war. Slay, 28, of Humble, was buried today following a funeral in which he was portrayed as a loving and devoted father known to make people cry with laughter.
The 450 people attending Slay's service at Brookside Funeral Home in north Houston were moved to tears when a letter written by Slay to his 9-year-old daughter, Kinlee, and 5-year-old son, Walker, was read out loud.
"Tell Kinlee that I love her and never knew what life was before she was born," the letter read by U.S. Marine Capt. Mike Evans said. "She'll always be Daddy's little girl."