A Jamestown man who sacrificed his life to help others is being remembered by family and friends who invite the community to sacrifice a bit of themselves to help patients in need. On Oct. 12, eligible blood donors are asked to give the gift of life at a blood drive in memory of fallen Marine Leon B. Deraps.
You can remember Deraps and help save lives by making an appointment to donate blood on Friday, Oct. 12, from 2 - 7 p.m. at Jamestown C-1 School, at 222 School St., in Jamestown.
Deraps was born in Jamestown in 1986, and his service to his community began almost immediately. Deraps was a Boy Scout who achieved 35 merit badges, served various troop leadership positions and completed many service projects. He earned the rank of Eagle Scout in 2005, the same year he was named prom king at Moniteau C-1 school in Jamestown.
After graduating high school, Deraps left home for Marine Corps training, and entered the Corps as a Private First Class. After completing training in 2006, he was deployed to Fallujah, Iraq, with other members of his engineering unit. He died on May 6, 2006, during combat operations against enemy forces.
"It is a way we can say "thank you' and honor those who have died in the line of fire protecting us," said Deraps' mother Sandra, about the blood drive. "Leon was always about helping others, and this is just a small way of saying thank you and a big way to help others."  Â
If you'd like to donate blood at the Jamestown C-1 School in Jamestown on Oct. 12, you can make an appointment by calling 1-800-RED CROSS or by visiting redcrossblood.org. Walk-ins are also welcome, though appointments are preferred. You can also help local high school seniors by taking part in the annual L. Cpl. Leon B. Deraps Memorial Five Mile Run/Walk/Ride held each spring in Jamestown, the proceeds of which benefit the Leon Deraps Scholarship Fund. For more information, call (573) 298-1558 or email [email protected].