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In a strange twist of fate, as Michel Meredith was attending the Campbell Memorial Day service at the Orchard City Green, her sister, Karen, was learning that her only child, 26-year-old Ken Ballard, had been killed in Iraq.
"I returned home from the Memorial Day service and got the phone call about Ken," Michel says.
Michel was at the Memorial Day service to also show her support for Adam Estep's family. Their son was honored with a wreath. Adam, a Campbell resident and 23-year-old Army sergeant, was killed in Iraq on April 29.
"This was one of the reasons I came," Michel says. "I was just talking with Carrie and her family."
Ironically, Adam Estep's stepmother, Carrie, is also friends with Karen Meredith. Now Michel and her sister are grieving for one of their own.
Michel said the outpouring of sympathy has been incredible and a memorial service for Ken is planned at the Graham Middle School Mountain View Sports Pavilion at 1185 Castro St. for June 9 at 10:30 a.m.
Karen is also planning to establish a history scholarship for high school students in Ken's name because, Michel says, Ken "had a love for history and finding out about the world."
Michel is trying to stay strong for Karen, but breaks down a little when she says, "Ken just had so much more to do."
Lt. Ken Ballard was a tank platoon leader who was killed on May 30 near An-Najaf as his unit battled a group of insurgents.
A scholarship fund has been established in Ken Ballard's name. Checks to the scholarship fund can be made out to Lt. Ken Ballard and sent to Lt. Ken Ballard, P.O. Box 1102, Mountain View, CA 94042-1102.
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