Fast honors those who have died in fight for freedom

Sierra Vista Herald, Sierra Vista Arizona ^ | Bill Hess

[SandRat]

SIERRA VISTA — Candles were lit Monday night as nearly 300 people brought light into the growing darkness at the Southern Arizona Veterans Memorial Cemetery, which holds the remains of more than 1,200 members of America’s armed forces and some of their loved ones.

Speaking for the second time at Monday Memorial Day ceremonies was Maj. Gen. Barbara Fast, commander of the Intelligence Center and Fort Huachuca. She spoke about one particular soldier whose cremains are at the cemetery.

His name is Robert Oliver Unruh, who was an Army specialist who died in Iraq while serving as a combat engineer. The 25-year-old died from small arms fire when his unit was attacked.

“We are all products of our past,” Fast said.

And, according to news reports of Unruh, he followed a family tradition by serving in the military. His great-grandfather served during World War II, grandfather during the Korean War and father in the Vietnam War.

The soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen are the ones who are willing to shed blood “to bring democracy to the world,” the general said.

Memorial Day is a time to honor the contributions of America’s armed forces, Fast added.

Unruh not only served the nation, but his fellow soldiers, she said.

As a combat engineer it was his responsibility, which he did without hesitation, to ensure GIs had as safe a path as possible to move in Iraq, Fast remarked.

Although the general did not speak about an aftermath of Unruh’s death, his mother, Karen Unruh-Wahrer, collapsed at her home and died a few hours after viewing her son’s body. She was placed in the cemetery’s columbaria on the same day as her son.

Today’s war on terrorism, the one that took Unruh’s life, “is a fight for freedom,” the general said.

Those serving in today’s armed forces are taking part “in the highest responsibility of citizenship,” she added.

There can be no denying those who are serving, those who have served and those who will serve make a difference by guaranteeing freedom, Fast said.

But the citizens of the United States have a responsibility as well, she said.

Those in the military will never leave a fellow warrior behind, Fast said, and what is equally important is that the honorable service of those in the nation’s military will be remembered, the general said.

If there is one thing that is important, it is “no soldiers will ever be left behind or forgotten,” Fast said.

Herald/Review senior reporter Bill Hess can be reached at 515-4615 or by e-mail at bill.hess@svherald.com.

[SandRat]

Many of the veteran's came in their uniforms, some in their WWII uniforms. All the vets no matter their age or infirmaty when they came in stood and saluted as appropriate as if they were 21 again and ready to serve once more.

Just in case,

[PGalt]

America's finest bump!

[E.G.C.]

BTTT