U.S. Army Captain Antoine Lewis was among those killed in March of 2019 when Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 crashed minutes after takeoff.
On Friday, his family announced a memorial scholarship in his honor.
It is a fitting legacy in remembrance of Captain Lewis. He died years ago in the plane crash, and now his family and his community are coming together to announce the creation of a scholarship for local high school students in his name.
On Friday, a promise was kept as Lewis' family announced the scholarship in the late serviceman's honor.
"We're continuing what we know would've been some type of investment," Captain Lewis' mother Antoinette Lewis said.
The community gathered in the captain's hometown in the south suburbs.
"Captain Louis was raised here in Matteson He dedicated his life to uplift the others through his military service," Matteson Mayor Sheila Chalmers-Currin said.
Family and friends wore Captain Lewis' favorite colors to help mark the bittersweet moment. His father, Rodney Lewis, says he still struggles with the loss.
"My son, he was a meticulous dresser," Rodney Lewis said. "He would dress in a black suit with red inside."
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The 39-year old decorated military officer was among 157 passengers who died in March of 2019 when the Boeing 737 Max 8 flight he was on crashed shortly after taking off from Ethiopia while enroute to Kenya. Relatives say he in Africa to help establish an international commerce program for young men of color.
The family filed a lawsuit against the jet maker and settled out of court before the trial was to begin.
"He wanted to build something that was going to leave family with a huge legacy to be able to bless others," Captain Lewis' sister Antoinette Lewis said.
Established through the Ykrystine Foundation created by his widow, the Captain Antoine Lewis Scholarship will award $2,500 of support to an eligible African-American male college freshmen who plans to attend a Historically Black College or University.
Ryan Boston, 18, could apply and is a possible award recipient.
"I feel like it's an amazing opportunity because college is expensive, and my college is covering the full price for tuition," Boston said.
Community members say the scholarship will not only represent excellence, resilience and the sense of purpose Antoine exhibited, but also his lifelong belief that true success extends well beyond oneself.
"I think that a tragic situation has been turned to something so beautiful," Kamilah Furqaan said.
The family is wasting no time celebrating the captain's legacy. They plan on awarding a scholarship in July.