The Atlantic Kiwanis Club hosted Jessica DeMarce of Red Oak at their meeting on Thursday. Jessica’s husband, Sergeant James Skalberg was killed when the truck he was in hit an IED in Afghanistan on June 27, 2012. At the time, James was 25 years old and the pair had a young son, Carter, who hadn’t yet reached his first birthday.
DeMarce has since re-married and has two more boys.
In August of 2025, DeMarce received an invitation to a Gold Star event in Washington, DC, where she and her family would be recognized by administration officials for James Skalberg’s sacrifice. She said the boys were excited about the trip but she wanted to make sure it was a learning experience for them.
President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania along with the Vice-President JD Vance and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth were all on hand to greet the families.
They were also treated to a private tour of the White House and the Pentagon and used the trip to visit other memorials and landmarks in Washington. DeMarce said she and her family will always remember the sacrifice her first husband gave to the country and that her current husband and in-laws have been very supportive of keeping Sergeant James Skalberg’s legacy alive.
