By KRWG News
New Mexico – The Utah National Guard armory in Blanding has been renamed to honor a guardsman from northern New Mexico who was killed last year in Afghanistan.
The facility was renamed the James E. Thode Armory during a ceremony attended by his widow. Also attending were about two dozen members of the Farmington, N.M., police force. Thode worked there as a sergeant.
Carla Thode tells the Farmington Daily Times (http://bit.ly/rpoPn7 ) that she's honored her husband was recognized at Friday's ceremony.
The 45-year-old was killed by an improvised explosive device on Dec. 2, 2010, while clearing a route for coalition forces. He was a member of the Salt Lake City-based 118th Sappers and had passed on a promotion opportunity so he could go with "his boys" to Afghanistan.
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Information from: The Daily Times, http://www.daily-times.com
Copyright 2011 The Associated Press.