Street Named Sergeant Kelly Drive in Memory of Soldier

Mayor Scott Mann presents a sign dedicating Sergeant Kelly Drive to Kevin and Sonia Kelly, parents of fallen soldier Nigel Kelly.

On June 23, 2011, Staff Sergeant Nigel Kelly called from his U.S. Army base in Afghanistan with birthday wishes for his mother Sonia back home in Menifee.

"He called his mom to say happy birthday and to say he loved what he was doing, that he was in his element," recalled Nigel's father, Kevin Kelly. "We heard from him often, whenever he could. He always was able to enjoy life and be happy, even in the midst of things he couldn't even describe to us."

Two days later, Sgt. Kelly was killed at age 26 when his unit came under attack in a rugged area of eastern Afghanistan's Kunar province. That was almost four years ago, but Menifee city officials showed family, friends and others who attended a brief ceremony Saturday that Kelly's memory is not forgotten.

In a new development in the midst of a planned community honoring World War II hero and former local resident Audie Murphy, the City of Menifee dedicated a street in Kelly's name. Sergeant Kelly Drive is now an entrance from Newport Road into the Silvercreek development in Audie Murphy Ranch.

Kelly, whose parents still live just minutes from the neighborhood where their son is now memorialized, was well known in Menifee from the time he arrived with his family at age 14. He was a basketball star at Temescal Canyon High School, where he was friends with the daughters of current Menifee Mayor Scott Mann. He was previously honored with a banner that flies above Newport Road (above).

"When I think of duty, honor and country, I think of Staff Sergeant Nigel Kelly," Mann (below) said in making the dedication official. "Nigel gave his full measure of devotion to his country on June 25, 2011."

Sgt. Kelly was twice honored with the Medal of Valor and was highly recognized by his peers in the Army -- something his mother said he never talked about during his phone calls or during his time at home between two deployments to Iraq and one to Afghanistan.

"From what we understand -- and we didn't know any of this until after the fact -- Nigel was an exceptional soldier," Sonia Kelly said. "The state of Hawaii gave him the Medal of Honor when he was at Schofield Barracks (in Honolulu). They named a restaurant after him. They even have a Kelly standard for new soldiers coming in.

"Nigel was very well respected and he had so many medals we had no idea about. He would always just come home and be our son."

Kevin and Sonia Kelly were both surprised by the number of residents who attended the ceremony in addition to city officials. Some said they heard about the event online and just wanted to come pay tribute to a Menifee soldier. Members of the fire department also attended.

"I'm a little bit overwhelmed," Kevin Kelly said. "We thought it was just going be us. But we're so honored with this.

"Nigel always had a great attitude on life. We feel completely at peace with the fact he loved what he was doing. He always said he wouldn't do anything else."