Thousands Honor Loved Ones At Iron Horse Memorial

Defend America ^ | September 10, 2004 | U.S. Army Sgt. Greg Heath / 4th Public Affairs Detachment

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Thousands Honor Loved Ones At Iron Horse Memorial By U.S. Army Sgt. Greg Heath / 4th Public Affairs Detachment FORT HOOD, Texas, Sept. 9, 2004 — Soldiers of the 4th Infantry Division and hundreds of family members gathered Thursday for a memorial dedication ceremony on Fort Hood's Sadowski Field to honor and remember the division's 81 soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice in Iraq while serving as part of Task Force Iron Horse. The Task Force Iron Horse Memorial contains plaques bearing the names of the 75 men and six women Task Force Iron Horse soldiers who died during Operation Iraqi Freedom. The memorial also includes a bronze statue of a soldier mourning the loss of a fallen comrade, while a small Iraqi girl gently places her hand on his shoulder. “This memorial was created to honor those who have given their lives to protect their nation, their family, and our way of life,” said division commander Maj. Gen. J.D. Thurman, to the thousands gathered around the memorial. During the ceremony, Thurman paid tribute to those Iron Horse soldiers who lost their lives and the families who were left behind. “The Soldiers we remember today fought to protect their families, just as surely as if they had stopped an attacker on their front porch at home, ” Thurman said. “They died for us; we can never repay the debt, we can never thank them or their families enough, we can only remember and thank them for their sacrifice in the face of danger.” Thurman also spoke of the statue, which serves as the emotional centerpiece of the memorial, and the special meaning behind its creation. While in Iraq, the 4th Infantry Division Command Group commissioned a local artist in Tikrit to build the statue out of bronze that was taken from destroyed statues of Saddam Hussein. “The statues were blown down, melted, and transformed into a symbol representing the price of freedom paid by our fallen comrades,” Thurman said. “Those we remember today provided the power to bring down a dictator, the fire to destroy the tyranny, and strength to remold a country.”

After the general’s remarks, the names of all 81 soldiers were read aloud, followed by a ceremonial firing of volleys and the playing of taps. At the end of the ceremony, families and friends of the fallen soldiers made a slow procession past the memorial. As they viewed the memorial, many stopped to share their condolences and memories of their lost ones with each other. “It’s sad to remember because they were friends of ours, they were like family because we were over there for so long,” said Spc. Celina Cisneros of the division's Company A, 4th Forward Support Battalion, who shared stories about the four friends she lost in Iraq. “I’m proud of everything they did. They’re like heroes to me.” Ursala Pirtle, who lost her husband, Spc. James Pirtle, a month before their first child was born, took the time at the ceremony to speak to people about her husband’s enduring spirit and memory. “I will tell our daughter about him, to let her know what an amazing, beautiful man he was,” she said. “I know what he did wasn’t in vain. I know he died for a purpose and good comes out of it, and that really helps us to live with the sorrow (of his loss).”

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Soldiers of the 4th Infantry Division and hundreds of family members gathered Thursday for a memorial dedication ceremony on Fort Hood's Sadowski Field to honor and remember the division's 81 soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice in Iraq while serving as part of Task Force Iron Horse.

~*~

 

A statue commissioned by Task Force Ironhorse - created by an Iraqi sculptor from the melted-down remnants of statues he had been forced to sculpt for former dictator Saddam Hussein - a focal point for a new memorial to task force soldiers killed in Iraq.

            Memorial to Honor Fallen Task Force Ironhorse Troops

 

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

“The statues were blown down, melted, and transformed into a symbol representing the price of freedom paid by our fallen comrades,” Thurman said. “Those we remember today provided the power to bring down a dictator, the fire to destroy the tyranny, and strength to remold a country.”

[blackie]

Honoring our heros ~ Bump!

[Fiddlstix]

BTTT

[MEG33]

http://boss.streamos.com/wmedia/christwebs/911-broad.asx

Never Forget...Never Again

Song: Have You Forgotten?

911 Tribute to the victims and to those who are fighting.

[blackie]

That's a great link ~ here's another one:

http://www.peteandrews.net/site/wtclinks.html

[MEG33]

http://attacked911.tripod.com/

Long and slow loading on dial up but the one that allowed me to cry after 911...worth it.

[MEG33]

Thank you, blackie!

[TADSLOS]

“The Soldiers we remember today fought to protect their families, just as surely as if they had stopped an attacker on their front porch at home, ” Thurman said. “They died for us; we can never repay the debt, we can never thank them or their families enough, we can only remember and thank them for their sacrifice in the face of danger.”

Thanks, J.D. Well said.

[blackie]

Thank MEG33!

[brothers4thID]

Tears of sadness and joy for our boys.