Memorial Day 2009

Last year I started this little mini tradition which allows me some time to pause and reflect on the price of freedom and to remember those that have paid that price for us. I am grateful that the list this year is much shorter than last year's, and pray that the list next year will be shorter still or non-existent.

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.

• Spc Jason N. Cox, US Army [16-Jun-08] 21 - Makeshift bomb in Balad, Iraq
• Cpt Michael J. Medders, US Army [24-Sep-08] 25 - Suicide bomber attack in Jisr Naft, Iraq
• LCpl Stacy A. Dryden, USMC [19-Oct-08] 22 - Non-hostile incident in Anbar province, Iraq
• Sgt Nicholas A. Casey, US Army [27-Oct-08] 22 - Suicide bomber in Bahlan, Afghanistan
• Cpt Warren A Frank, USMC [25-Nov-08] 26 - Supporting combat operations in Ninewa province, Iraq
• SSgt Jason E. Burkholder, US Army [2-Feb-09] 27 - Makeshift bomb in Kabul, Afghanistan
• Cpl Brad A. Davis [22-Apr-09] 21 - Makeshift bomb near Baghdad, Iraq
• SSgt Mark A. Wojciechowski [30-Apr-09] 27 - Supporting combat operations in Anbar provice, 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.