Throughout the current COVID_19 pandemic, the West Virginia National Guard has been front and center, helping all around the state with testing, food distribution and much more.
But this weekend, it's the sacrifice made years ag0 by a West Virginia National Guardsman that is taking center stage.
Staff Sgt. Gene Arden Vance Jr. was well-known to bikers at the Appalachian Bike Classic held at Calhoun County Park, where a trail is named in his honor.
The Classic drew hundreds of bikers from around the state.
Today is Gene Vance Day, a virtual tribute.
In 2001, Vance was a student at West Virginia University and was set to go on his honeymoon when the September 11th attacks rocked the country.
Vance's Army unit, the 2nd battalion, 19th Special Forces (Airborne) was activated and he soon found himself in Afghanistan, where his Persian language, cryptology and special forces skills made him very valuable.
In May 2002, Vance was shot near the border with Pakistan, helping to save his comrades at the same time. He became the first National Guardsman to be killed in direct action since Vietnam and the first West Virginia guardsman to die in battle since World War II.
Several years after his death, Vance's brother-in-law, Michael Minc founded the Gene Vance Jr. Foundation aimed at improving the quality of life for wounded veterans. Minc and the foundation have also worked hard to keep Vance's memory alive. Over the years, the group has gotten things all over the world named in Vance's honor:
* The Vance Barracks at the Defense Language Institute at the Presidio of Monterey, in California
* Camp Vance in Bagram, Afghanistan
* The Vance-Nolan Building at Goodfellow Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas
* The Vance Mile along Deckers Creek Rail Trail in Morgantown, West Virginia
* The SSG Gene Arden Vance Jr. Memorial Bridge in Oceana, West Virginia
* Gene Arden Vance Jr. Memorial Drive in Morgantown, West Virginia
* The SSG Gene Arden Vance Jr.& SG Deforest Lee Talbert Hall of Honor at Camp Dawson in Kingwood, West Virginia
* The Gene Vance Biometrics Experimentation Center at Camp Dawson in Kingwood, West Virginia
* The SGT Gene A. Vance Jr. Fitness Center in Afghanistan
* His name is also inscribed on the National Security Agency's Cryptologic Memorial Wall
Vance has also been featured in the books: "Hunting al Qaeda," by an anonymous author and "Behind the Lines," by Andrew Carroll.
VANCE REMEMBERED AS GENTLE MAN - Bikes Lowered, Spirits Turned At Appalachian Classic
GUARDSMAN GENE VANCE HONORED IN WASHINGTON - Remembered At Appalachian Classic Bike Race | 
