Memorial adds names of Ga. natives killed in line of duty
LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. - The names of two Georgia service who died in the line of duty were inscribed at the Fallen Heroes Memorial and Armed Forces Monument memorial.
Sgt. Ryan O’Hara and U.S. National Guard Spec. Travis Pameni’s names were inscribed at the Fallen Heroes Memorial and Armed Forces Monument memorial outside the Gwinnett Justice and istration Center.
O’Hara died in the Washington midair collision and Pameni died in a non-combat training incident in Iraq.
Gary O’Hara re his son Ryan with a smile on his face.
“Ryan was a wonderful child growing up. He was really easy to raise, one of those kids that was really truly a blessing,” he said.
Ryan grew up in Lilburn attending Parkview High School and ing the school’s Marine Corps J-ROTC program.
“That was it, I mean he came home and told us ‘Mom, Dad, I’m going to do this’ and he never deviated,” said O’Hara.
Georgia service honored by Sen. Jon Ossoff
Senator Jon Ossoff honored fallen military heroes Monday during Gwinnett County’s Annual Memorial Day Ceremony.
Ryan signed up to the U.S. Army at just 17 years old.
He was on a mission with one goal in mind: to become a Blackhawk mechanic.
During his time in the Army, Ryan deployed to Afghanistan and married his wife in 2023. That same year, they had a son.
Ryan loved his job and serving his country. But in a flash everything changed. He was one of three people on board the Blackhawk helicopter that collided with American Airlines Flight 5342 on Jan. 29, 2025.
67 people died in one of the worst U.S. commercial aviation incidents since 2001. A Navy veteran from Clayton County was among those on flight 5342.
“I immediately picked up the phone and called my wife and let her know about what had happened,” said O’Hara.
“An unbelievably crushing moment. Then the next morning, probably about 10:00, two Army officers show up at your door and deliver the news that every parent in the military just dreads to hear…when they basically tell you that your child’s been killed,” said O’Hara.
‘The people that gave it all’: Memorial Day honors veterans across the CSRA
In a military community such as our own, Memorial Day is so much more than a long weekend. It’s a time to thank our veterans and honor the fallen.
On Memorial Day, the O’Hara’s felt Ryan’s loss the same as the day it happened.
“I never thought Memorial Day would hit so close to home,” said O’Hara.
A day to commemorate fallen service , now including his son in Gwinnett County. A ceremony to remind us all what Memorial Day is about.
“We pay particular tribute to whom Gwinnett County sent out into the world to defend our nation,” said Sen. Jon Ossoff, D-Ga.
“It’d be nice to see if Memorial Day meant more to all of us and we did better,” said O’Hara.
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