By Michael Butler

Linville Memorial Funeral Home is hosting a ceremony on Tuesday, May 19 at 10 a.m. to pay tribute to former U.S. Marine Nicholas Turner. Turner passed away last year after a battle with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The son of Linville employee Charles Turner was 35.

Turner grew up in Elmore County and graduated from Prattville High School. He served with the Marines in Afghanistan. His unit’s fight against the Taliban received presidential recognition in being bestowed the prestigious Medal of Honor for their bravery.

AHEROUSA, an Alabama-based organization, is assisting with Tuesday’s program.

“The founder of AHEROUSA, (Lee Stuckey), was one of Nicholas’ commanders,” Linville employee Leo Gross said. “He struggled with PTSD as well.”

Stuckey suffered a brain injury from an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) in 2007.

“(At) the edge of suicide,” AHEROUSA’s website noted, “Lee put a gun to his head. As he was pulling the trigger, his cell phone rang and displayed the word, “Mom.” He immediately dropped the pistol and realized he needed help.”

AHEROUSA assists veterans and first-responders with psychological trauma and physical wounds.

“It gets them into the outdoors, whether it be hunting or fishing,” Gross added. “(Lee’s) farm is right there in Shorter. He’s a Macon County boy.”

The program is similar to Taya and Chris Kyle Foundation’s TACK-F, which also utilizes the outdoors for military and first-responders. Kyle’s story was depicted in the 2014 movie, “American Sniper.”

“AHEROUSA is more of an Alabama thing,” Gross added. “It’s starting to grow.”

The funeral home will be making a donation to the organization.

“We’re going to have Nicholas’ family present the check to his former commander.”

The Patriot Guard Riders will be in attendance.

“Memorial Day is a time of reflection,” said Brad Linville, Linville Memorial Funeral Home proprietor. “We think of sacrifice in wartime. These guys go through this every day. Sometimes they go through things we don’t understand. It’s more about remembering what they sacrificed, even during peace time.”

Linville Memorial Funeral Home is located at 84632 Tallassee Highway in Eclectic.