Fallen Soldier Remembered with Ribbons
Friends, loved ones and classmates of a fallen soldier from L’Anse gather tonight.
They’re placing visible reminders of his service across much of Baraga county.
Army Private First Class Robert Voakes, Jr. was 21 years old.
He was killed in action in Afghanistan over the weekend.
Family members and others from his life have been making yellow and black ribbons today.
They’re placing the ribbons across much of L’anse and Baraga.
Caroline Picard was one of Robert’s cousins and grew up with him.
She says he was very hard-working — he accomplished just about anything he set his mind to — and she learned a lot from him, including how to play pool.
Voakes was a member of the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community.
The KBIC’s Ojibwa Seniors Center in Baraga was the center of the ribbon activity all day today.
A former classmate of his at Baraga High School, Ashtin Koski, organized it all.
She says Voakes was proud to be a KBIC member and she used to run into him quite often at various KBIC functions.
We’ll have more Thursday night on ABC 10 News Now.
Reid Funeral Service and Chapel in L’Anse is handling his funeral arrangements.
The details have still not been finalized yet.