Virginia Wall of Honor Dedicated

www.vaag.com ^ | May 24, 2007 | Office of the Attorney General

[Coventry]

For Release: May 24, 2007 Contact: J. Tucker Martin or David Clementson Email: tucker.martin@oag.state.va.us or dclementson@oag.state.va.us Phone: 804-786-2071

Virginia Wall of Honor Dedicated

Permanent Memorial to Virginia’s Fallen Heroes in the Global War on Terrorism

Richmond - Virginia Attorney General Bob McDonnell, joined by Governor Tim Kaine, Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling, a host of state and military dignitaries, and hundreds of family members of Virginia’s fallen, dedicated Virginia’s Wall of Honor today in honor of Virginians who have died in the Global War on Terrorism.

The dedication occurred with a 1 p.m. ceremony on the South Portico of the State Capitol. The event was highlighted by a flyover of Jefferson’s Capitol by F-18 fighter jets flown by the Oceana Naval Air Station Tomcatters, and a 21-gun salute by the Langley Air Force Base Honor Guard. Music was provided by the Fort Lee Army Band.

Speaking about today’s dedication Attorney General McDonnell noted, “A nation should be judged not only by how and why it sends its young people off to battle, but also by how it welcomes them home, and how it remembers those who sadly did not return. Today, citizens of a grateful Virginia extend their personal appreciation to the families of the 141 Virginians who have not returned from the mission upon which they were sent. We mourn their loss, but at the same time we celebrate their heroism and their duty to Commonwealth and country.”

McDonnell continued remarking, “Honoring the defenders of freedom and democracy is vitally important. My daughter and several of my lawyers safely completed tours of duty in Iraq last year. I ask all Virginians this Memorial Day to take the time to pay tribute to the men and women who left their families and friends to defend our nation, and did not return to the lives and places they loved. I thank the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, military officials, families of the fallen patriots, our corporate partners, and all those who participated in today’s event for their commitment to ensuring that Virginia pay the proper respect and gratitude to our fallen heroes.”

Today, the names of 137 Virginians are featured on the Wall of Honor, with 4 to be added after today’s event. Among them are officers and enlisted Virginians from Tazewell to Alexandria; from Virginia Beach to Covington. All branches of the Armed Services are represented, including the United States Coast Guard, with heroes from the active forces, reserves, and National Guard.

The Wall itself is 38.5 feet long. Each block frame contains 12 individual profiles. Each individual profile is 7 inches by 14 inches, and each photo is 5 inches by 7 inches. Accompanying the wall is a framed Virginia State flag, flown in Iraq by Corporal Jonathan Bowling of Martinsville. Corporal Bowling served with the United States Marine Corps Reserve, 4th Combat Engineer Battalion, 4th Marine Division. He was killed in an enemy ambush in Al-anbar Province, Iraq on January 26, 2005, and the flag was donated to the Wall of Honor by his father, Virginia State Police Master Trooper Darrell Bowling of Martinsville. In addition, a pair of boots, and a rifle with helmet on top, stands in front of a Virginia and American flag, in a traditional military tribute to the fallen.

Following a private event for the families of the fallen at the Office of the Attorney General, the Wall of Honor officially opened to the public beginning at 3 p.m. It is located in the Main Street lobby of the Office of the Attorney General, at 900 E. Main St. in Richmond. The Wall is open to the public from 9AM-5PM weekdays.

Attorney General McDonnell’s father, John F. McDonnell, retired as a Lt. Colonel in the Air Force, after serving in World War II with an 8th Air Force bomber squadron in England. Attorney General McDonnell served 21 years in the U.S. Army, both active duty and reserves, retiring as a Lt. Colonel. The Attorney General’s daughter, Jeanine, recently returned from serving a tour of duty in Iraq, as a First Lieutenant in the U.S. Army. She was a platoon leader, serving at the Camp Victory command center in Baghdad, Iraq, as a Signal Corps Officer.

Below is a full list of the Virginia service members commemorated on the Wall of Honor, listed chronologically by the date of their passing.

Petty Officer 2nd Class Kenneth Clodfelter Mechanicsville

Petty Officer 2nd Class Timothy Saunders Ringgold

Seaman James McDaniels Norfolk

Johnny M. Spann, CIA Manassas

Petty Officer 1st Class Neil C. Roberts Virginia Beach

Operations Officer Helge Boes Fairfax

Staff Sgt. Donald May Richmond

Sgt. Michael Lalush Botetourt County

Captain James Adamouski Springfield

1st Lt. Jeffrey Kaylor Clifton

Major William Watkins, III Danville

Lance Cpl. David Owens, Jr. Winchester

Commander Joseph Acevedo Virginia Beach

Private Jason Deibler Coeburn

Petty Officer 1st Class Shaun Dale Newport News

Staff Sgt. Micheal Dooley Pulaski

Petty Officer 1st Class Thomas E. Retzer Virginia Beach

Petty Officer 1st Class David M. Tapper Virginia Beach

Sgt. Major James Blankenbecler Alexandria

Captain John Teal Mechanicsville

1st Lt. Joshua Hurley Clifton Forge

Chief Warrant Officer Sharon Swartworth Alexandria

Sgt. Major Cornell Gilmore Stafford

2nd Lt. Jeffrey Graham Stafford

Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael Gray Chesterfield

Lt. Col. Robert Zangas Prince William County

Spec. Frank Rivers, Jr. Prince William County

Petty Officer 3rd Class Nathan B. Bruckenthal Herndon

Private First Class Andrew Tuazon Chesapeake

2nd Lt. Leonard Cowherd, Jr. Culpepper County

Private 1st Class Michael Carey Prince George County

Private 1st Class Leslie Jackson Richmond

Capt. Humayun Khan Silver Spring

Spec. Jeremy Dimaranan Virginia Beach

Staff Sgt. Gregory Pennington Glade Springs

Staff Sgt. Robert McGee Martinsville

Sgt. Krisna Nachampassak Burke

Staff Sgt. Craig Cherry Winchester

Sgt. Bobby Beasley Winchester

Lance Cpl. Tavon Hubbard Covington

Staff Sgt. John Ryan Howard Reston

Staff Sgt. Kristopher Shepherd Lynchburg

Lance Cpl. Caleb Powers Northern Virginia

1st Lt. Timothy Price Midlothian

Spc. Clarence Adams Richmond

1st Lt. Alexander Wetherbee Fairfax County

Lance Cpl. Brian Medina Woodbridge

Cpl. Bradley Arms Charlottesville

Lance Cpl. Demarkus Brown Martinsville

Sgt. Jack Bryant, Jr. Dale City

Chief Warrant Officer Travis Grogan Norfolk

Gunnery Sgt. Javier Pena Falls Church

Cpl. Binh Le Alexandria

Captain Mark Stubenhofer Springfield

Chief Petty Officer Joel Baldwin Arlington

Sgt. David Ruhren Stafford

Sgt. Major Robert Odell Manassas

Sgt. Nicholas Mason King George

Staff Sgt. Nathaniel Nyren Reston

Sgt. Jayton Patterson Wakefield

Cpl. Christopher Weaver Fredericksburg

Cpl. Jonathan Bowling Martinsville

Lance Cpl. Darrell Schumann Hampton

Lance Cpl. Karl Linn Chesterfield/Midlothian

Sgt. Jesse W. Strong Lynchburg

Lance Cpl. Jason Redifer Stuarts Draft

Private 1st Class Lee Lewis, Jr. Norfolk

Lance Cpl. Tenzin Dengkhim Falls Church

Private 1st Class Pendleton Sykes, II Chesapeake

Captain James Edge Virginia Beach

Sgt. Tromaine Toy, Sr. Eastville

Lance Cpl. Nicholas Kirven Richmond

Lance Cpl. Jourdan Grez Richmond/Harrisonburg

Private 1st Class Kyle Hemauer Manassas

Staff Sgt. Russell Verdugo Alexandria

CW4 Matthew S. Lourey Lorton

Major William Downs Winchester

Staff Sgt. Leroy Alexander Dale City

Chief Petty Officer Jacques Fontan Virginia Beach

Lt. Michael McGreevy Virginia Beach

Petty Officer 1st Class Jeffrey A. Lucas Chesapeake

Petty Officer 1st Class Jeffrey Taylor Virginia Beach

Petty Officer 2nd Class Danny P. Dietz Virginia Beach

Sgt. 1st Class Michael Russell Stafford

Petty Officer 3rd Class Travis L. Youngblood Southampton County

Private 1st Class Jason Scheuerman Lynchburg

Sgt. Theodore Clark, Jr. Emporia

1st Lt. Laura Walker Oakton

Lance Cpl. Daniel Bubb Grottoes/Rockingham County

Private 1st Class Dillon Jutras Fairfax Station

Major Michael Martino Fairfax

Staff Sgt. Jason Fegler Virginia Beach

Lt. Col. Thomas Wren Lorton

2nd Lt. Donald McGlothlin Lebanon

Sgt. Kenith Casica Virginia Beach

Cpl. Jared W. Kubasak Rocky Mount/Franklin County

Cpl. George Lutz, II Virginia Beach

Staff Sgt. Ayman Taha Vienna

Captain Christopher Petty Vienna

Cpl. Brett Lundstrom Stafford

Lance Cpl. Kyle Brown Newport News

Sgt. Sean Miles Midlothian

Lance Cpl. Steven Phillips Chesapeake

1st Lt. Almar Fitzgerald Richmond

Spc. Felipe Garcia-Villareal Burke

Gunnery Sgt. Justin Martone Bedford

Private 1st Class Jeremy Ehle Richmond

Capt. Brian Letendre Woodbridge

Captain Shane Mahaffee Alexandria

Cpl. Andy Anderson Falls Church

Cpl. Adam Fargo Ruckersville

Spec. Robert Drawl, Jr. Alexandria

Chief Petty Officer Paul J. Darga Hampton Roads

Cpl. Shannon Squires Virginia Beach

Private 1st Class Colin Wolfe Manassas

Private 1st Class Edwin Andino, Jr. Culpepper

Petty Officer 2nd Class David Roddy Hampton

Sgt. Brandon Asbury Tazewell

Captain Shane Adcock Mechanicsville

Airman 1st Class Leebenard Chavis Hampton

Col. Thomas Felts, Sr. Sandston

Cpl. Nicholas Rapavi Springfield

Cpl. Joshua Stricklen Virginia Beach

Maj. Joseph McCloud Alexandria

Major Gloria Davis Lorton

Spec. Eric Caldwell Gloucester

Petty Officer 2nd Class Joseph D. Alomar Virginia Beach

Col. Paul Kelly Stafford

Staff Sgt. Darryl D. Booker Midlothian

Sgt. Joshua Frazier Spotsylvania

Lance Cpl. Daniel Morris Crimora

Scott E. Duffman Virginia Beach

Sgt. Shawn Dunkin Covington

Sgt. Michael Peek Chesapeake

Staff Sgt. Robert Stanley Spotsylvania

Staff Sgt. Jason Arnette Amelia

Sgt. Forrest D. Cauthorn Midlothian

Chief Warrant Officer Dwayne L. Moore Williamsburg

Staff Sgt. Christopher Kiernan Virginia Beach

Private First Class Christopher E. Murphy Lynchburg

Private First Class Aaron Gautier Hampton

[iceskater]

Richmond ping.

[Flora McDonald]

Thanks for the ping, iceskater. God bless the men and women on the Virginia Wall of Honor and their families.

[USMCPOP]

Thanks! We had a good turnout today. Saw some folks I knew, met others, said howdy to the Governor, teased some Marines. Wish there was enough time to meet all the families... I’m sure there’s a Freeper or two in that crowd if I could just get the word out.

Looks like I’ll have a chance to get to D.C. on Saturday for a time, at least. Keep a weather eye out for POP.

Semper Fidelis,

[VA_Gentleman]

God rest your soul Capt James Edge. You’re a Marine, father, friend, and classmate sorely missed.

[EverOnward]

Honoring our state’s finest...

Thank you for your sacrifice, my beloved heros.