Parents of Kennedy Sanders who died in Jordan strike tell ‘Fox & Friends’ daughter ‘loved the service’
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Oneida and Shawn Sanders, parents of Spc Kennedy Landon Sanders, 24, of Waycross, GA, joined the co-hosts of 'Fox & Friends' on the January 30 episode to share what they have been going through after the death of their daughter.
Sanders was among the three US soldiers who were killed in a drone strike in Jordan near the Syrian border on January 27. The other two fallen soldiers are Sgt William Jerome Rivers, 46, of Carrollton, GA, and Spc Breonna Alexsondria Moffett, 23, of Savannah, GA.
Kennedy Landon Sanders came from a long line of service
"I'm always kind of focused on her commitment to the army and understanding the ultimate sacrifice," said Shawn. "I came home, her big brother came home. My dad came home. A lot of us don't have the opportunity to come home, and for those who don't, we should honor them."
"She was the life of the party. She enjoyed life. She was very competitive. She was goal-oriented, and she loved the service. She loved serving our country," he reminisced. "I just miss her right now. This morning has been tough on me."
"As a grieving parent, I would not want to see any other parent go through what we're going through right now," shared Oneida later. "But given the circumstances, our child and the others who lost their lives are considered heroes in this situation. However the President of the United States decides to respond, it won't change our situation at all."
Little information was provided to the family surrounding the death of Kennedy, as Oneida stated, "They didn't give us any details to that effect. The only thing that officers who visited our home told us (was) that Kennedy Sanders was deceased and that she was in Tower 22 killed by an unmanned aircraft or drone. I can't remember the word he used, but that's the only details he gave us."
The President spoke with Oneida and Shawn Sanders
When the interview was aired on 'Fox & Friends,' the Sanders were waiting on a call from President Biden.
Oneida mentioned that they had already heard "from some other government officials. Also, the governor of Georgia, Governor Brian Kemp, has put in a call to us. Some of our congressmen who represent our area have called us."
Since then, White House national security spokesman John Kirby confirmed Biden had spoken to each of the families directly, reported Fox News.
"He was grateful for their time. He expressed to them how proud we all are of their service, how we mourn and feel the full sorrow over their loss. Made sure that those families knew that not only was that service and sacrifice going to be honored and respected, but that they would continue to get the support that they need as they work through what no family wants to have to go," said Kirby.
"As I said, no Blue Star family wants to become a Gold Star family. In that conversation, he also gauged their feelings about him going to the dignified transfer Dover on Friday," he continued. "All of them supported his presence there, and so the president will be going to the dignified transfer on Friday."
