Honoring Sonora Army Specialist

Sonora, CA — Yellow ribbons line the streets of downtown Sonora this morning in honor of a U.S. Army Specialist that recently passed away.

The ribbons were put up Wednesday night by Operation Mom to recognize the life of 23-year-old Sonora resident Derek Burns, who passed away on August 3rd at a Hospital in Tacoma, Washington. The Burns family has chosen not to release details about his death.

Burns was escorted from the Sacramento Airport to Sonora by the Patriot Guard Riders and Warriors Watch Riders. A funeral service is taking place this morning at the Heuton Memorial Chapel in Sonora, and Burns will be buried at the Dambacher Mountain Cemetery.

Burns was a 2007 Sonora High School Graduate. He had been a U.S. Army Specialist for around four years.