WAYCROSS, Ga. — While most homes deck out in red and green for Christmas, one house on Kennedy L. Sanders Way is covered in purple – the fallen Army sergeant’s favorite color.
“It’s kind of like, become our uniform now because it’s something small we can always do to honor her," said the sergeant's mother, Oneida Oliver-Sanders.
Sanders’ parents Shawn and Oneida are still coming to terms with not hearing from their daughter every day, telling them about her adventures over the world for the Army.
“She had to clear land. Heavy equipment operator, so as a female driving big bulldozers," said Sanders. "They say she excelled at her job. She was really good.”
Sanders and two others were killed in a drone attack in January while stationed in Jordan.
“It’s been a rollercoaster of emotions," said Oliver-Sanders. "Up and down. Up and down. Experiencing, still, a lot of firsts.”
About a week from their first Christmas without their daughter, they learned two men were arrested in connection with the attack.
“It’s justice for all Americans," said Sanders. "Their arrests should show Americans that we’re trying to prevent another child from being lost, another husband from being lost.”
The charges for both men have to do with the technology used in the attack, so her parents are hoping there will be more to come.
“We trust that they’ll continue to work hard to get everybody else who’s involved as well," said Oliver-Sanders. "I’m confident justice will be served.”
While the Sanders are optimistic the arrests will prevent future attacks, it doesn’t bring their daughter back.
“I know you’re going to say, ‘You heal.’ We’re just learning to cope, day to day," said Sanders.
The Sanders are hosting a 5K run in their daughter’s memory on Jan. 25 that will come right down Kennedy L. Sanders Way, the road named after the sergeant.