'The sky is crying because Abby is gone'

COLONIE – The 20-year-old paratrooper who died last week in a training accident at Fort Bragg, N.C. has come home.

Abigail Jenks’ body was flown back to the Capital Region on Thursday afternoon. Arriving via Southwest Airlines at Albany International Airport, Jenks’ flag-draped coffin was received by her somber mother, three younger siblings, grandparents and fiance on the rainy tarmac that fell silent for her arrival.

“Before we got here, I was feeling anxious and nervous,” said her mother Mary Jenks. “When I saw the plane, my heart filled up a lot more and I’m so relieved she is home now.”

Spc. Abigail Jenks, or Abby as her family called her, died on April 19 during a static line training jump from a Black Hawk helicopter. After being carried from the plane by members of the 82nd Airborne, of which she was a member, the Gansevoort soldier was placed in a hearse and driven to Wilton where her mother says they will celebrate her life this weekend.

“I think of my daughter would not want me to be crippled in the corner or play the victim or be destroyed by this,” her mother said. “She always became a better person the next day. She was very creative and always working on projects and making people feel comfortable. I learned that from her. This is just the beginning. I am sharing my daughter with everyone I can. I want her to be remembered as how positive she was and how much she loved everyone in her life.”

Prior to the paratrooper’s arrival from North Carolina, her great aunt and uncle Diana Jenks Klementowski and Larry Klementowski along with her best friend Cierra Currier gathered with members of the Down Range Motorcycle Club, a group of veterans, to ride from Saratoga Springs to the airport. Escorted by Saratoga Springs police, the motorcycle ride was wet, but Klementowski said it didn’t matter. She did it for her niece who loved riding  and added the rain was appropriate for the moment.

“The sky is crying because Abby is gone,” said Klementowski, who rode with her niece’s helmet on the back of her bike.

Currier, who had never ridden a motorcycle before, did so for the occasion. She said she still has a hard time believing her friend is gone.

“I just talked to her two hours before,” Currier said. “When (fiancé) Shane (Grant) called me, I didn’t believe it. Then I looked it up online and saw it was true.”

Abigail Jenks ride home was escorted by a parade of more than a dozen law enforcement officers. In addition to the Saratoga Springs police, State Police and Saratoga County sheriff's deputies were also in the long procession of vehicles that flashed their lights as they drove up the Northway. Also following was the a motorcade of the Patriot Guard Riders, bearing large American flags, who came to join the Down Range veterans to pay homage to the young woman.

“We want to be there for the family members,” said Clyde Moore, an Army veteran and president of the local Down Range club.

Her mother called the support from law enforcement, veterans and motorcyclists beautiful.

“I don’t know how I could make it without everyone’s love and support for us,” Mary Jenks said. “This is amazing. To come together like this sends a huge message. It’s just bringing more people together. My daughter Abigail brought people together. This is what is happening now. It is beautiful. They served our country and have seen losses themselves. It’s precious that they came to support us. I’m just very thankful.”