Sgt. Ari Cullers Honored at Memorial Service

 gathered at Robert B. Nett Hall at Camp Niantic Thursday for a wake and memorial service for the Waterford native who was recently killed in Afghanistan while serving on active duty.

On Oct. 30, Sgt. Cullers was fatally wounded by shrapnel from a rocket propelled grenade while he was performing maintenance on a bulldozer in Kandahar Province. Col. John Whitford, public affairs officer for the Connecticut National Guard, said Cullers was awarded the Bronze Star medal, the Purple Heart medal and a second Army Commendation medal during the memorial service today.

Cullers was a graduate of Waterford High School. The service at Camp Niantic was private, and a private burial service is scheduled for Monday.