In a poignant gathering at the New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Stonecrest, Georgia, hundreds came together to honor the life of Roger Fortson, a Black senior airman tragically shot and killed in his Florida home by a sheriff’s deputy earlier this month. The somber assembly included Air Force members in full dress blues, family, friends, and sympathizers.
Colonel Patrick Dierig, addressing the congregation, expressed the widespread admiration for Senior Airman Fortson, highlighting the profound impact he had even before joining their ranks. Reverend Jamal Bryant drew parallels to the struggles of past Black servicemen like Medgar Evers, underscoring the enduring challenges faced by Black individuals in uniform.
