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Furniture Row Racing to honor fallen hero at Memorial Day NASCAR race

Memorial Day weekend is always a special event in the NASCAR community, as teams honor fallen service members. 

<p>(Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)</p>

Memorial Day weekend is always a special event in the NASCAR community, as teams honor fallen service members.

As part of NASCAR's 600 Miles of Remembrance, which honors military service members who paid the ultimate price to defend freedom, all 40 cars will have windshield tributes honoring fallen soldiers.

For Denver's Furniture Row Racing team, 2nd Lt. John C. Yates will grace the windshield of Martin Truex Junior's car on this Sunday night's Memorial Day weekend classic, the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Speedway.

Yates, of Fergus Falls, Minn., served three tours of duty during the Vietnam War and was killed in action during a heroic maneuver to save the life of a fellow comrade on Oct. 17, 1968 in the Vietnam province of Quang Tri at the age of 26.

He was an exemplary Marine who portrayed courage, selflessness, leadership and patriotism during his tours, which led to a reserve of medals for bravery, including the Navy Cross, which is the United States Military's second-highest decoration awarded for valor in combat.

"I couldn't be more proud of my cousin for his love of God, family, country and the Marine Corps," Said Woody Boyd, chief operating officer (COO) at Furniture Row. "His Commitment and ultimate sacrifice inspired me to to become a Marine six years later."

Barney Visser, Furniture Row founder and team owner of Furniture Row Racing, is a Vietnam veteran himself.

"I appreciate Barney honoring my cousin," Woody told 9NEWS. "He was killed in action in 1968 serving his third tour in Vietnam attempting to save another Marine during an Amtrac Tank explosion. For his actions, he was awarded the Navy Cross for gallantry. He was also awarded the Silver Star on a separate fire fight, as well as other medals including two purple hearts."

Along with those honors, Yates' collection of medals for meritorious service in combat included the Silver Star (third highest decoration for valor, the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry with Bronze Star, a rifleman badge, the Good Conduct Medal and many others.

"This weekend is more than racing. It's a time for Americans to remember and pay tribute to our military service members who gave their life so we can enjoy our freedom,' said Truex Jr.. He is the defending champion of the Coca-Cola 600. "As I learn the courageous background of 2nd Lt. John Yates during his time in Vietnam, he is without a doubt, a true American patriot."

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