Commentary: Fallen warriors deserve to be remembered always

Fort Hood Sentinel ^ | May 24, 2007 | Emily Baker

[Zakeet]

My hands were shaking as I lifted a pencil to trace over a fallen warrior’s name. This was the closest I’ll ever get to meeting him.

A nice man I’d never met held a piece of paper for me as I outlined the name. There were thousands of names around us at the Dignity Memorial Vietnam Wall Experience, which was set up at the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery last weekend. And, slowly, the only name I knew began to appear on my paper – Danny L. Little.

I first learned about Staff Sgt. Little four years ago when I adopted a missing-in-action Soldier. The organization through which I made my adoption commitment chose Little to be my Soldier, and I received his name on the eve of the 30th anniversary of the last time anybody saw him alive.

All I know about him was he was on a Special Operations mission in Vietnam, was shot, probably died where he fell but nobody knows for sure and hasn’t gotten to come home yet. He was 23.

As I looked at his name, I couldn’t stop touching it. For four years, I’ve thought about the holidays his Family had without him, that they probably wondered whether they’d ever get to bury their loved one. It’s hard to imagine they’ve been wondering for 34 years.

While they gathered around each other for a cozy celebration, his remains were scattered somewhere, cold and alone. I guess I finally felt a little closer to him now that I got to see his name.

I’m not sure how long I stood there at panel 11 W, line 41 with my fingers on his name. As I wiped away tears, I looked up and realized just how many names were around me – 58,256. I hardly know anything about Staff Sgt. Little. I know nothing about the 58,255 others. And every single one of them died for me, died for all of us.

As I spent my weekend at the wall, I made a sobering discovery. Most of the people who paid the wall a visit either were in uniform, once wore it or now have a Gold Star in their front window. The people who owed these fallen warriors the least were the first to pay their respects.

Where were the rest of us?

Yes, it is hard to think about the consequences of war when so many around us live them daily. Most of us expend huge amounts of energy suppressing the thoughts of what could happen – we have to, to survive.

I know this but not as well as most. The love of my life returned from Iraq about six months ago with a combat action badge. His award was for an incident during which no one was seriously hurt. Though four of his friends did not make it home, he did. I can’t really imagine how hard it is for people who have it much tougher than we do.

But forgetting the warriors who have died in the name of freedom because it is too hard to remember them is not the right answer. Our Soldiers have the courage to face their fears every day, and we should, too.

Just give the fallen one day this year. This Memorial Day, remember them, think about them, teach your children about them.

It is tough, but try turning the day into something more cheery. We can honor the dead by serving the living. Visit a veteran in a nursing home. Take a trip to San Antonio to cheer up the wounded. Reach out to an overwhelmed spouse who needs help with household chores. Call up that person you met at a newcomers brief or Family readiness group meeting and never spoke to again. Tell every Soldier – current and former – you see how much you appreciate them.

Never forget we Army significant others, spouses and Family members are lucky to kiss a hero good morning every day, though many of us have to send those kisses through e-mails and instant messages.

Let’s not forget those who had their heroes taken from them so the rest of us can be free.

[Zakeet]

Lt. Gen. James D.Thurman, V Corps commanding general, is consoled by his
wife Dee as they lay a wreath during the 4th Infantry Divisions Operation Iraqi
Freedom memorial monument re-dedication ceremony that took place at
Cameron Field on Wednesday.

This is the first of three articles honoring veterans in today's Fort Hood Sentinel.
It was written by my newspaper reporter daughter.

Em graduated from the journalism program at TCU a little over three years ago.
She has won numerous writing awards, and has already been called a "female
Ernie Pyle." She makes her old man just a little bit proud sometimes.

[Zakeet]

If interested, you can find the other two articles here and here.

[USMCWife6869]

So who will forward this article to John Edwards?

[SHOOT THE MOON bat]

Those who paid the ultimate price for freedom will never be forgotten at this site. You can even leave a message thanking them for their sacrifice. http://www.vvmf.org/index.cfm?SectionID=2