Lee Brice Pays Tribute to U.S. Air Force Maj. Troy Gilbert at Arlington National Cemetery
"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,” said Brice.
On Monday, Dec. 19, Arlington National Cemetery held a full military honors funeral service for U.S. Air Force Maj. Troy Lee Gilbert, who died on Nov. 27, 2006 when his F-16C Fighting Falcon crashed 20 miles northwest of Baghdad, Iraq.
In attendance at the ceremony was singer Lee Brice, who performed a moving tribute with “Go Rest High On That Mountain” during the private chapel service, attended by 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.
“Singing at Troy’s funeral was a moment I’ll never forget. 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,” said the singer.
Brice first entered Gilbert’s life when he met Gilbert’s widow Ginger and her family at a Folds of Honor event in 2015. The family bonded with Brice over his song “I Drive Your Truck” after going through a similar situation of their own.
“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,” explained Ginger. “Troy sold his old beloved truck for a new one about a month before he found out he was deploying. Things were starting to break on his old one, and he needed a reliable ride. Just a week before he took off for Iraq, he said ‘I think we need to sell my new truck. We really can’t afford to make payments while I am gone.’ So we sold it and he left. Years later when Lee’s song came out, it wasn’t the new truck I wished we still had. It was the old one; the one that belonged to Troy’s Dad first, the one Troy drove for years, the one I knew (my sons) Boston and Greyson would get a kick out of.”
Brice surprised the family during the 2016 ACM Party for a Cause when he brought out Gilbert’s old 1992 Chevy Silverado pickup, one he personally bought after hearing the families’ story. The group was in Las Vegas thinking they were invited to accept a check for Folds Of Honor.
“I’m so happy that we were able to locate this truck because it meant so much to Ginger and her family,” Brice said at the time. “Troy paid the ultimate price in service to our country and I’m grateful we got to show our appreciation in a small way.”
Maj. Troy Gilbert was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross with Valor.
