CORINTH - Five months after Staff Sgt. William "Seth" Ricketts' death, his family and community gathered on Sunday to celebrate his life and remember his sacrifice.

Ricketts, a U.S. Army paratrooper, died Feb. 27 in Afghanistan when his unit was attacked by insurgents. A commemorative plaque remembering him was placed in the CARE Honor Garden in downtown Corinth.

"He was a remarkable man and he will continue to bless lives with his sacrifice," said Gentry Parker, who organized the memorial. "It's not what we can do for ourselves, but what we can do for others."

It was standing-room-only inside the Crossroads Museum as family, friends, veterans and members of the community gathered to remember the fallen soldier.

Maj. Gen. James B. Gaston Jr. said he didn't know Ricketts, but that he could feel the love in the room for him.

"He served his God, he served his family, he served his country and he served his state. You can't ask any more of an individual than that," he said.

Ricketts' brother, Ben, earned chuckles and tears by performing a song in memory of his brother.

"I didn't want to play a sad ballad; I wanted to play a song that would remind me of my brother," he said before launching into a cover of The Flaming Lips' "Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots," a song he said he and his brother loved.

Col. Jim Weaver, with the Military Order of the Purple Heart, gave a Purple Heart plaque to Ricketts' widow, Rosie.

Outside, the family marched to the CARE Garden to a chorus of revving motorcycles.

Family members unveiled the plaque, which included his name and his Airborne insignia.

The plaque reads, "Not for one's self, but for one's people."

Ricketts' mother, Sandi, said she was thankful for the community support.

"I'm proud of my hometown," she said. "I'm proud to be from Corinth."

Parker said remembering Ricketts has truly come full circle.

When Ricketts died, the community came together by buying and flying yellow ribbons.

"That was such a sad time, and this was like a celebration," she said. "We really want to celebrate Seth, and this is the first step."

Contact Sheena Barnett at 678-1580 or sheena.barnett@djournal.com.