“He loved his family. He loved his country and he was willing to give his life to protect his family and protect his country. He was a great American.”

Her grandson, who turned 30 in June, was stationed in Virginia Beach, Virginia, and had been in the service for about eight years, she said.

She recalled one of the last conversations she had with him.

“I told him to be careful and he said, ‘Granny, don’t worry about me.‘ He said ’I‘m not afraid because I know where I’m going if something happens to me.’ Aaron was a Christian and he stood firm in his faith,” she said, her voice heavy with emotion.

“He’s with the Lord now, and I’ll see him again some day.”