A nurse who died protecting his wife during the Las Vegas shooting massacre was remembered as a hero at his funeral Tuesday in Tennessee.
Sonny Melton, 29, died after he took a bullet in the back when he jumped in front of his wife Dr Heather Melton, 48, to shield her from the gunfire when gunman Stephen Paddock unleashed his deadly gunfire from the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay Hotel.
Heather spoke briefly, between tears, without prepared remarks to the congregation at Big Sandy High School, where Sonny graduated in 2007.
She said she doesn’t have much strength, but wanted to acknowledge country musician Daniel Bonte for his attempts to save Sonny.
She told the congregation: ‘In that very dark night I was screaming for somebody to come and help me and then an angel came and put Sonny over his shoulder and carried him off the field to a truck where he performed CPR.
‘After I found out Sonny had passed her stayed with me the entire time. A stranger.’
She added: ‘There was more than one hero that night.’
Bonte then sang the song ‘Like a Cowboy’ in Sonny’s memory.
Heather Melton, 48, spoke briefly at her husband Sonny’s funeral. She did not have any prepared remarks but wanted to thank country musician Daniel Bonte who tried to save Sonny’s life
Sonny Melton’s father, James Warren Melton, hugs friends Monday, October 9, 2017, during Sonny’s visitation at Big Sandy High School in Big Sandy, Tennessee
Guests greet family members, from right, Susan Melton, being hugged, father James Melton, grey jacket, stepmother, Janie Brown Melton, left, before the funeral for Sonny Melton
Heather and Sonny married a year ago, and worked together at the Henry County Medical Center in Tennessee
During the ceremony Kris Gulish said his brother-in-law was humble, knew everybody and was known for his grin. He said the outpouring of support for Sonny and his wife, Heather, shows that although there will always be evil in the world, it’s exponentially outnumbered by the good.
‘He has touched this entire nation, a country boy from small town, U.S.A., and he did it simply by being himself,’ Gulish said. ‘But Sonny wouldn’t call himself a hero. He was too humble for that.’
The last act of the nurse was to shield his wife, an orthopedic surgeon at the Henry County Medical Center in Paris, Tennessee, where he also worked.
Sonny was one of 58 people who died after Paddock sprayed bullets onto a crowd of more than 22,000 at a country music festival on October 1. More than 400 were wounded.
Kelsey Paris becomes emotional as she embraces her grandfather and Sonny Melton’s father, James Warren Melton, Monday, October 9, 2017, during Sonny’s visitation at Big Sandy High School in Big Sandy, Tennessee
A sign is seen outside the school before the funeral for Sonny Melton Tuesday, October 10, 2017
A photo of Scott Melton and his wife, Heather is seen tapped to a basket of cards and letter before the funeral for Sonny Melton Tuesday, October 10
A guest hold a program as she waits for the funeral to start for Sonny Melton Tuesday, October 10, 2017
A guest is seen wearing a shirt in honor of Sonny Melton before the funeral Tuesday, October 10, 2017
Friends and family of Sonny Melton console each other Monday, Oct. 9, 2017, during Sonny’s visitation at Big Sandy High School in Big Sandy, Tennessee
Heather and Sonny Melton had only been married for a little over a year.
Dr. Melton, a mother of three from a previous relationship, had previously recalled how she tried in vain to save her husband saying: ‘As I was giving CPR he began to bleed from his mouth.’
Speaking about their relationship she said: ‘It was a love that I had never experienced before. It was the kind of love that fills you up every single day.
‘We loved being together and people felt how much we loved each other and I will carry that with me forever.
‘I don’t know that I’ll ever experience that kind of love again, but the days I had with him were worth every minute.’
Dr Melton says her husband shielded her from the gunfire, but then was shot himself. Above, the couple at the festival
Sonny Melton was one of 58 people killed after a gunman opened fire from the 32nd floor of a Las Vegas hotel on October 1
Many others spoke out in Sonny’s memory.
‘All the kids, my wife’s kids, played ball with Sonny. That is how we know each other, tight. We will miss him. We’ll miss him. Big Sandy will never be the same,’ said Dewayne Culpepper, a family friend.
‘There will always be evil in this world but it has been exponentially outdone by the good,’ said Gulish.
A scholarship fund has been set up in Sonny’s name. The money will go to assisting graduating Big Sandy High School Seniors who desire to pursue a career in nursing.
Apex Bank has committed to match the first $50,000 in private contributions to the fund, and Sonny’s aunt and uncle Rich and Donna Plumley have also matched the first $50,000.
‘I don’t know that I’ll ever experience that kind of love again, but the days I had with him were worth every minute,’ said Melton