| Graduation Year | Class of 2005 |
| Date of Passing | Jul 19, 2006 |
| About | Derek attended Lehigh Senior until 2004 when his family moved to Arkansas. He graduated with the class of 2005 at Valley Springs High School in Arkansas. He joined the army reserve in hopes of obtaining his degree in psychology someday - but never made it that far. On July 19, 2006 Derek was shot in Iraq by a fellow guardsman and died from the fatal wound. Private First Class Derek James Plowman is remembered by those who knew him best as a compassionate soul, who was always quick to bring a smile to the faces of those around him. Having grown up in a large family that was often filled with laughter, he quickly became the life of every party, developing a special gift for being at ease in large groups and brightening the spirits of the people he came in contact with. In a memorial service at Valley Springs High School, over 200 mourners gathered to pay their respects for this fallen soldier and to comfort his family. He was later laid to rest at Western Grove Cemetery in Harrison, Arkansas. The loss of this special young man is a sobering reminder of the tragic human cost of war. The loss of any of our brave men and women in uniform is felt by not only their friends and loved ones but also by communities and families across our nation that they fought to defend. |
