Memorial Day 2008

This time of year, you will often here people say "never forget". But I prefer to flip it around and phrase it "always remember". Forgetting is a passive action, and one may not even know that they have forgotten something. Remembering is active. It is something you have to set aside time to do. Today is the day for setting aside some time to remember those that have fallen in service to their country. Below is a list of all US service members that have died from my state of Ohio since last Memorial Day. Each line contains the date they were killed, their age, and a few details of their passing. The link is to their Faces of the Fallen profile which is hosted by The Washington Post should you wish to read a little bit more about them. The profile also often contains links to obituaries, news articles, and a site where you can leave a note of your own.

• Spec. Keith V. Nepsa, US Army [2-Jun-07] 21 - Roadside bomb near Qayyarah, Iraq
• Staff Sgt. Matthew J. Kuglics, USAF [5-Jun-07] 25 - Roadside bomb Kirkuk, Iraq
• Sgt. Cory M. Endlich, US Army [9-Jun-07] 23 - KIA Taji, Iraq
• Airman 1st Class Eric M. Barnes [10-Jun-07] 20 - IED attack 100 miles south of Baghdad, Iraq
• Maj. Kevin H. Sonnenberg, USAF [15-Jun-07] 42 - Jet crashed during takeoff about 50 miles north of Baghdad, Iraq
• Spec. Zachary A. Grass, US Army [16-Jun-07] 22 - IED Rashidiyah, Iraq
• Cpl. Derek C. Dixon, USMC [26-Jun-07] 20 - KIA vehicle checkpoint Anbar Province, Iraq
• 1st Lt. Christopher N. Rutherford, US Army [2-Jul-07] 25 - IED Balad, Iraq
• Sgt. Keith A. Kline, US Army [5-Jul-07] 24 - IED Baghdad, Iraq
• Spec. Anthony M.K. Vinnedge, ARNG [5-Jul-07] 24 - Non-combat related injuries Radwaniyah Palace Complex, Iraq
• Cpl. Joshua S. Harmon, US Army [22-Aug-07] 20 - Helicopter crash Multaka, Iraq
• Sgt. 1st Class Daniel E. Miller, US Army [24-Aug-07] 43 - Humvee accident Herat, Afghanistan
• Spec. Edward L. Brooks, US Army [29-Aug-07] 25 - IED Ramadi, Iraq
• Spec. Jason J. Hernandez, US Army [7-Sep-07] 21 - IED Mosul, Iraq
• Pfc. Christian M. Neff, US Army [19-Sep-07] 19 - IED Baghdad, Iraq
• Capt. Roselle M. Hoffmaster, US Army [20-Sep-07] 32 - Non-combat related injuries Kirkuk, Iraq
• Cpl. Benjamin C. Dillon, US Army [7-Oct-07] 22 - KIA Northern Iraq
• Spec. Samuel F. Pearson, US Army [10-Oct-07] 28 - Rocket attack Baghdad, Iraq
• Staff Sgt. Jonathon L. Martin, US Army [22-Nov-07] 33 - Wounds suffered from an IED on 9-Nov Jisr Naft, Iraq
• Spec. Jon M. Schoolcraft III, US Army [19-Jan-08] 26 - IED Taji, Iraq
• Lance Cpl. James F. Kimple [2-May-08] 21 - KIA Anbar Province, Iraq
• Pvt. Branden P. Haunert, US Army [18-May-08] 21 - IED Tikrit, Iraq

One last quick note, Memorial Day is for remembering those that have fallen. While I, or probably any other veteran, appreciate being thanked for our service, today is not the day for that. Today is for remembering in your own way, those who are not here to be thanked.