The stones appeared on the bench in the memorial garden outside Windsor High School following Sgt. Birdwell's death in Afghanistan. Sgt. Birdwell was 25 years old and was killed on Aug. 27 in Kalagush, Afghanistan. The U.S. military is investigating reports that Sgt. Birdwell was killed by an Afghan soldier.

In a statement released by Sgt. Birdwell's parents they said, "We look forward to learning more details about how our son died and the circumstances surrounding this event."

"He was a 2005 graduate of Windsor High School. He was an athlete. He was a great student, and when the news broke that Chris had been killed, there was an outpouring of bits of information coming from counselors and former students and teachers and staff and people that were here. They all remembered him as an awesome student and a wonderful young man," Scott Romme, a spokesperson for the Birdwell family, said.

The family released a photo of their son to the public. It is a portrait that is very special to them. The portrait had been hanging in the Windsor Church of Christ, the same church the family attends.

"When I look at that photo, I see a young man who has a gentle character, but at the same time, he is dressed in full combat gear, and he is obviously a very patriotic young man because he is over there risking his life for us," Romme said.

A memorial service will be held for Sgt. Birdwell on Sept. 6 at Fort Carson at 11 a.m. Sgt. Birdwell was based out of Fort Carson and was assigned to A Company, 1st Platoon, 4th Brigade Special Troop Battalion.

Funeral arrangements for Sgt. Birdwell are still pending. His family is making plans to have Sgt. Birdwell buried at Fort Logan.

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