Lee Brice Honors U.S. Airforce Major During Funeral At Arlington Cemetary

lee-briceThe full military honors funeral service for U.S. Air Force Maj. Troy Lee Gilbert was held Monday, December 19th at 1:00 PM/ET at Arlington National Cemetery.

Family friend, Lee Brice paid tribute to Troy by delivering a moving version of “Go Rest High On That Mountain” during the private chapel service held in the Old Post Chapel on Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall.

In attendance were Troy’s mother and father, Kaye and retired Senior Master Sgt. Ron Gilbert; sister, Rhonda Jimmerson; wife, Ginger Gilbert Ravella; sons, Boston and Greyson; and daughters, Isabella, Aspen and Annalise.

Gilbert is laid to rest 10 years after his F-16 crashed while he protected U.S. troops on the ground in Iraq. 

Lee Brice first met Ginger Gilbert Ravella and her family at a Folds of Honor event in 2015.

Lee and I connected over his song ‘I Drive Your Truck’ and I told him how much we, as fallen families, cling to pieces left of those we love,” says Ginger.

Maj. Troy Gilbert was killed when his F-16C Fighting Falcon crashed 20 miles northwest of Baghdad, Iraq, November 27, 2006, while engaged in support of coalition ground combat operations. Gilbert, who was posthumously awarded  he Distinguished Flying Cross with Valor, deployed in September 2006 from Luke Air Force Base, Ariz., to the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing, Balad Air Base, Iraq. He was assigned as the 332nd Expeditionary Operations Group chief of standardization and evaluation.

On the day of the accident, he was flying with the 524th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron.

Singing at Troy’s funeral was a moment I’ll never forget.” Says Lee. “I’m grateful for Troy’s sacrifice and I admire Ginger and her family for their sacrifice, also. I can’t imagine what they went through and I’m honored to have been a part of this special moment with this incredibly strong family,” says Lee.

Lee can currently be heard alongside long-time friend and label-mate, Jerrod Niemann, on Jerrod’s latest single, “A Little More Love.”  Lee will continue to tour through the fall while also writing and recording his fourth studio album slated for release in 2017 on Curb Records .

For all the latest information on Lee Brice, visit his website and follow him on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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