Eden’s Army Spc. Travis Sigmon a leader at home, abroad

In the spirit of patriotism, Alice Fair and her mother, Ann, invited hometown hero Spc. Travis Sigmon to be the grand marshal of this year’s Fun Fourth Parade.

“More people my age can relate to him,“ said Fair. She is a few years younger than 21-year-old Sigmon, but they both attended Morehead High School. Sigmon’s schoolmates and the entire

community showed their support after the specialist in the 82nd Airborne Division of the Army was wounded by a bomb while on foot patrol in Iraq in June 2007.

“It’s such a small town and everybody knows everybody, so everybody’s affected when something happens,“ said Fair.

Even at the Fun Fourth Parade, people came up to Sigmon, asking him how he was doing and letting him know that he was still on their mind.

“It’s nice. They think of me as somebody to look up to,“ he said. “I appreciate the support.“

Sigmon’s parents Larry and Carolyn appreciate the community’s encouragement as well.

“We’ve had so much support and even still, he’s asked about and prayed for,“ said Carolyn. “He knows he’s very fortunate and very blessed.“

Friday’s parade was the perfect way for Sigmon to enjoy his time in his hometown of Eden before heading back to Washington, D.C. for military duty in about a week.

“It’s always good to come home,“ said Sigmon. He said he was happy to see the children coming out to the parade to celebrate the Fourth of July, a day that means so much to him.

“It’s really just another day to enjoy all the freedoms we have, the independence,“ he said.

Sigmon made sacrifices to secure America’s freedoms. He lost his left arm from the explosion of the roadside bomb in Iraq and spent months in the Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. undergoing numerous operations to remove the shrapnel throughout his body. A year after the incident that nearly claimed his life, Sigmon is recovering faster than expected.

“I’ve had a lot of improvement. I’m pretty much back to normal,“ he said.

“He’s made a lot of progress,“ said Carolyn. “We’re very pleased in a year how far he’s come.“ Sigmon knows he still has a long journey ahead of him, but he has the backing of his family and hometown to help him through it.

Staff writer Miranda Baines can be reached at or 349-4331, ext. 35.