When June 27 rolls around next year, the date will serve as a stinging reminder to the family and friends of U.S. Army Sgt. Ricky Dewayne “Mojo” Jones that he is no longer with them.

However, the date will also serve as a reminder of his sacrifice.

Jones was killed in Afghanistan on June 21. On Monday, the Dallas County Commission presented Jones’ family with a resolution officially making June 27 “Ricky DeWayne ‘Mojo’ Jones Day.”

“He will never be forgotten,” said Probate Judge Kim Ballard. “This is a resolution to further honor Ricky by naming the day of his funeral as Ricky Dewayne MoJoe Jones Day, and it will forever be remembered as that.”

Several of Jones’ family members, including two of his sons, were present to hear and accept the resolution.

“Whereas no greater love could Ricky Dwayne Jones demonstrate so bravely than to sacrifice his life for his family, for his friends, for Dallas County, for the state of Alabama and for the United States of America,” Ballard read from the document. “We will observe this date with honor and dignity in memory of the bravery shown and the freedom Ricky so unselfishly fought for.”

Unselfish was the first word that came to the mind of Jones’ mother, Sheila McCary, when talking about her son.

“It’s very nice. If he was living, he’d probably want that, something honoring his name,” said McCary. “He loved the people and he always tried to help anybody that came by.

“[People would come by] and they’d say, ‘I like them pants, can I have them pants?’ and he’d just pull them off and give them to him. That was the type of person he was.”

McCary said the family does not anything special planned for that day yet, and Jones’ sister, Jasmine, said the family will probably do the same thing they did Monday evening — get together and tell stories about Mojo.

“I’m glad to know he’s really well-known for that and he’s considered as a hero for what he did,” said Jasmine Jones.