COMFORT, Texas -- A park honoring an area U.S. Army specialist killed while serving in Iraq will be dedicated on Memorial Day.

Spc. James Kiehl, of Comfort, Texas, was one of the first casualties of Operation Iraqi Freedom when the convoy in which he was traveling was ambushed on March 23, 2003.

A new park located along the Guadalupe River in Kendall County will be dedicated in his name at 3 p.m., Monday, but Kiehl's father said the monument to his son is about much more than just one person.

"It's also to all of our soldiers and servicemen and women alike, not only from Iraq, but Vietnam, Korea, World War I, World War II, any other conflicts," said Randy Kiehl. "This is to them."

The park has walking trails, river frontage, picnic tables and benches. Randy Kiehl said his son loved the natural beauty of the area.

"It's a little bit off the beaten trail, but being so peaceful and quiet, it's a great place to come," Randy Kiehl said.

James Kiehl River Bend Park, located at 118 River Bend Road near Comfort, will be officially dedicated at 3 p.m., on Memorial Day.