The parents of a Bloomington native Army Ranger killed in combat earlier this year have established a memorial fund with a local organization.
Sgt. Josh Rodgers, 22, died during a joint operation with Afghan forces in Nangarhar Province on April 27. Rodgers was assigned to Company C, 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, and stationed at Fort Benning, Ga. He was on his third deployment to Afghanistan.
His parents, Kevin and Vonda, have created the Sgt. Joshua P. Rodgers Memorial Fund at Illinois Prairie Community Foundation. The fund aims to provide funding to eligible Army 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment veteran scholarships and other charitable purposes, including the support of sports in the Bloomington-Normal area.
IPCF executive director Greg Meyer says the family was seeking opportunities to honor his life in a special way.
“The Rodgers family has experienced an outpouring of support from the community since Josh’s death,” Meyer said. “They were looking for a way to honor his life and sought our help in developing a fund that would give back to the community and support local charities that Josh would have wanted.”
Rodgers was born in Bloomington and attended Northpoint Elementary, Kingsley Junior High and Normal Community High schools. He was active in sports, playing football and track.
Rodgers’ father says he knows this memorial fund is what his son would have wanted.
“Josh loved his country, his family and friends, the military, and especially, his fellow Rangers and regiment,” Rodgers said. “Josh knew his purpose in life and was living out his dream. He was an amazing friend with a big heart. He would have approved of this fund supporting his brothers and sisters in the military and also helping kids in the community play sports.”
You can support the Sgt. Joshua P. Rodgers Memorial Fund online or send contributions to the fund in care of IPCF, 2401 E. Washington St., Suite 300B, Bloomington, IL 61704.
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