A Salute To The Fallen Heroes - They Gave Their All

Miyuki Cawley, the wife of U.S. Marine Staff Sgt James Cawley, holds the flag from her husband's casket in her lap during graveside services at the Roy City Cemetery Thursday, April 10, 2003 in Roy, Utah. Cawley died March 29, 2003 while serving in Iraq and also was a member of the Salt Lake City police force.

Bishop Jaime Soto is shown Friday, April 11, 2003, at St. Joaquim Catholic Church in Costa Mesa, Calif., at the funeral of U.S. Marine Cpl. Jose A. Garibay, shown in foreground. Garibay was killed March 23, 2003, after encountering Iraqi troops near An Nasiriyah, Iraq

A U.S. Marine color guard escorts the casket of U.S. Marine Cpl. Jose A. Garibay following funeral services at St. Joaquim Catholic Church, Friday, April 11, 2003, in Costa Mesa, Calif. Garibay was killed Sunday March 23, 2003, near An Nasiriyah, Iraq. He was buried at Riverside National Cemetery.

Fernando Suarez del Solar, center, leads a group of pallbearers carrying the casket of his son Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Jesus Suarez del Solar into his funeral at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Escondido, Calif. Friday, April 11, 2003. Del Solar was killed in Iraq on March 27th.

Amaryllis Hernandez, second from right, the mother of U.S. Marine Cpl. Robert Marcus Rodriguez, is aided with smelling salts at the funeral of her son at the Blessed Sacrament Memorial Church in Brooklyn Friday April 11, 2003. Cpl. Rodriguez was remembered Friday as a 'son of New York' who died in Iraq

Amaryllis Hernandez, upper left, the mother of U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Robert Marcus Rodriguez, looks skyward while being comforted by husband Clemente Hernandez, behind her, as her son's casket is carried by a Marine color guard from Blessed Sacrament Church, in Brooklyn, Friday April 11, 2003. Rodriguez was remembered Friday as a 'son of New York' who died in Iraq

Sgt. Javier Vila, from Miami, Fla. cries as he and fellow soldiers pay their respects at a memorial service for Cpl. Henry Brown in Baghdad on Friday, April 11, 2003. Brown was killed on April 7. Brown, 22, was from Natchez, Miss. and is survived by his wife Jordona

Soldiers pay their respects at a memorial service for Cpl. Henry Brown in Baghdad on Friday, April 11, 2003. Brown, who was the driver of the commander of the 2nd Brigade of the 3rd Infantry Division, was killed on April 7 when an Iraqi rocket hit the headquarters near Baghdad. Brown, 22, was from Natchez, Miss. and is survived by his wife Jordona.

A British army hand out photograph shows the coffin of British Royal Marine Captiain Philip Guy arriving to be laid to rest at Waltonwrays Cemetery, Skipton, North Yorkshire, April 11, 2003. Captain Guy was killed in a helicopter crash in Kuwait at the start of the conflict with Iraq. Leading mourners at the funeral, which took place with full military honours on Friday, was Guy's 29-year-old wife Helen who gave birth to the couple's daughter Emily shortly after his death.

The funeral prosession of Royal Marine Captain Philip Guy leaves the Holy Trinity Church in Skipton, North Yorkshire in Britain, April 11, 2003. Captain Guy was killed in a helicopter crash in Kuwait at the start of the conflict with Iraq

The coffin of Royal Marine Captain Philip Guy, who died in a helicopter crash in Kuwait at the beginning of the conflict in Iraq, is carried outside Holy Trinity Church, in Skipton, England Friday April 11, 2003. Captain Guy's funeral was being carried out with full military honours.

Cecil Cawley, the 8-year-old son of U.S. Marine Staff Sgt. James Cawley, waves at his fathers casket as it is loaded into a hearse Thursday, April 10, 2003, in Bountiful, Utah. Cecil's mother, Miyuki Cawley, left, looks on. Cawley, 41, a Marine reservist from Layton, died March 29 in Iraq when struck by a coalition Humvee as he sought refuge from enemy fire. He also was a Salt Lake City Police detective and served on the department's gang unit and SWAT team.

A Marine color guard carries the casket Lance Cpl. Thomas Slocum into Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church for funeral services, Thursday, April 10, 2003, in Denver. Slocum was among 10 Marines who died March 23 in fierce fighting near An Nasiriyah, Iraq

Keiko Cawley, at left, wearing light blue dress, the 6-year-old daughter of Staff Sgt. James Cawley, follows her father's casket as it is wheeled toward a hearse, Thursday, April 10, 2003, in Bountiful, Utah. Cawley, Utah's first casualty in the war in Iraq, was buried Thursday with full military and police honors. Cawley, 41, a Marine reservist from Layton, Utah, died March 29 in Iraq when struck by a coalition Humvee as he sought refuge from enemy fire. (

Miyuki Cawley, left, wife of U.S. Marine Staff Sgt. James Cawley, reacts as the American flag from her husband's casket is handed to her during graveside services at the Roy City Cemetery Thursday, April 10, 2003, in Roy, Utah. Next to Cawley are her mother, Aiko Miyagi, center, and her father, Takimitsu Miyagi, right. James Cawley died March 29 in Iraq when struck by a coalition Humvee as he sought refuge from enemy fire.

A U.S. Marine Honor Guard carries the casket of Marine Cpl. Evan James to his grave site in LaHarpe, Ill., Thursday, April 10, 2003. James, 20, of LaHarpe, drowned while attempting to cross a canal in southeast Iraq on March 24.

A Marine Honor Guard carries the casket of U.S. Marine Cpl. Evan James into funeral services Thursday, April 10, 2003, in La Harpe, Ill. James drowned while crossing the Saddam Canal on March 24 in southeast Iraq

Jorge and Yolana Rincon watch with their children Jorge Jr., and Stephanine as an American flag is folded during a funeral service for their son Army pfc. Diego Rincon Thursday, April 10, 2003 in Conyers, Ga. Rincon was killed March 29 in Iraq. In Spanish and English, friends and family of Diego Rincon remembered the Colombian-born U.S. soldier Thursday as a young man who touched hundreds of lives in just 19 years of life.

Dog tags, boots, rifles and photos of the fallen soldiers are on display as part of the fallen comrade memorial display at the memorial service for three servicemen from Fort Sill who were killed in the war in Iraq, at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, Thursday, April 10. Pictured in the photographs from left to right are Sgt. 1st Class Randall Rehn, Sgt. Todd Robbins and Spc. Samuel Oaks, Jr. who were killed in Iraq on April 3, 2003.

Nannette Slocum, stepmother of Marine Lance Cpl. Thomas Slocum of Thornton, Colo., kisses the casket bearing the body of the soldier killed in Iraq after a memorial service in Fort Logan National Cemetery in Sheridan, Ccolo., on Thursday, April 10, 2003. Slocum wass the first soldier from Colorado killed in the conflict with Iraq

Nannette Slocum, left, stepmother of Marine Lance Cpl. Thomas Slocum of Thornton, Colo., writes a message on the lid of the casket bearing the first Colorado soldier to die in Iraq, as the Marine's 12-year-old stepsister Amanda fights back tears after a memorial service at Fort Logan National Cemetery in Sheridan, Colo., on Thursday, April 10, 2003.

Army Pfc. Diego Rincon's uniform and photograph stand next to his flag-draped casket during a funeral service Thursday, April 10, 2003 in Conyers, Ga. Rincon was killed March 29 in Iraq

Sat Apr 12, 1:33 PM ET

A U.S. Marine Corps color guard escorts the casket of Lance Cpl. William White, during memorial services in his church in Brooklyn, New York, Saturday, April 12, 2003. White was killed in a vehicle accident in Iraq

Sat Apr 12, 1:33 PM ET

A relative reacts while viewing the open casket of U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. William White, during memorial services in his church in Brooklyn, New York, Saturday, April 12, 2003. White was killed in a vehicle accident in Iraq

Fri Apr 11,11:38 PM ET

Mary Hamann sits in front of pictures of her son Justin, right, and five other boys she helped raise in her Oshkosh, Wis., home on March 31, 2003. All six are currently serving in the military in the Middle East.

Fri Apr 11,11:36 PM ET

Simona Garibay receives a U.S. flag from Maj. Brian Dolan during funeral services for her son, Cpl. Jose Angel Garibay, at Riverside National Cemetery, April 11, 2003. Cpl. Garibay, who was awarded posthumous citizenship, was buried Friday with full military honors. He was also named honorary Costa Mesa policeman after Chief Dave Snowden learned Garibay hoped to become a police officer after completing his military duties. Cpl. Garibay, a native of Mexico, was killed March 23 near Nasiriyah, Iraq

Fri Apr 11,11:34 PM ET

An unidentified policeman (L) salutes as the casket of Cpl. Jose A. Garibay is carried by a Marine honor guard from Seal Naval Weapons Station to its final place of rest at Riverside National Cemetery, April 11, 2003. Cpl. Garibay, who was awarded posthumous citizenship, was buried Friday with full military honors. He was also named honorary Costa Mesa policeman after Chief Dave Snowden learned Garibay hoped to become a police officer after completing his military duties. Cpl. Garibay, a native of Mexico, was killed March 23 near Nasiriyah, Iraq

Fri Apr 11, 5:47 PM ET

Bagpipers play as the casket of Army Cpl. Michael Curtin is carried out of St. Veronica's church in Howell, New Jersey, April 11, 2003. Cpl. Curtin was one of four of United States Army soldiers killed when a suicide bomber detonated explosives at a checkpoint in Najaf, Iraq

Fri Apr 11, 4:41 PM ET

Taylyn Solomon (C) holds the flag that draped the casket belonging to his father, Sgt. Roderic A. Solomon, during a memorial service held for Solomon April 11, 2003 in Fayetteville, North Carolina. Solomon, who was assigned to the 3rd Ifantry Division at Ft. Stewart, Georgia, died near the town of Najaf, Iraq (news - web sites) while riding in a Bradley Fighting Vehicle participating in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Solomon is the first North Carolina native to be killed during the war with Iraq.

Fri Apr 11, 4:15 PM ET

Members of the United States Army Honor Guard unload the body of Sgt. Roderic A. Solomon from a hearse prior to a memorial service held for him April 11, 2003 in Fayetteville, North Carolina. Solomon was the first North Carolina native to be killed in the war with Iraq (news - web sites). Solomon, who was assigned to the 3rd Infantry Division at Ft. Stewart, Georgia, died near the town of Najaf, Iraq while riding in a Bradley Fighting Vehicle participating in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Fri Apr 11, 4:02 PM ET

Members of the United States Army Honor Guard carry the casket belonging to Sgt. Roderic A. Solomon out of Fayetteville Christian Church following a memorial service held for him April 11, 2003 in Fayetteville, North Carolina. Solomon, who was assigned to the 3rd Infantry Division at Ft. Stewart, Georgia, died near the town of Najaf, Iraq (news - web sites) while riding in a Bradley Fighting Vehicle participating in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Solomon is the first North Carolina native to be killed during the war with Iraq.

Fri Apr 11, 4:02 PM ET

Joan Curtin (C) cries as an unidentified man holds the flag for her son Army Cpl. Michael E. Curtin, at his funeral in Howell Township, New Jersey, April 11, 2003. Curtin, 23, died along with three other soldiers from his unit of the Third Infantry Division in the March 29 suicide bombing at a military checkpoint

Fri Apr 11, 3:59 PM ET

An officer with the United State Army hands a flag that draped the casket of Sgt. Roderic A. Solomon to Solomon's mother Belinda following a memorial service held for him April 11, 2003 in Fayetteville, North Carolina. Solomon, who was assigned to the 3rd Infantry Division at Ft. Stewart, Georgia, died near the town of Najaf, Iraq (news - web sites) while riding in a Bradley Fighting Vehicle participating in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Solomon is the first North Carolina native to be killed during the war with Iraq

Fri Apr 11,10:45 AM ET

Police officers from Salt Lake City and a Marine honor guard escort the casket of US Marine Staff Sgt. James Wilford Cawley past several hundred officers for his funeral in Bountiful, Utah

Fri Apr 11, 4:20 PM ET

United States Army honor guards carry the casket of Army Cpl. Michael Curtin to his final resting place, at a cemetery in Howell Township, New Jersey, April 11, 2003. Cpl. Curtin was one of four of United States Army soldiers killed when a suicide bomber detonated explosives at a checkpoint in Najaf, Iraq

In Memory of...
by Frank J. Montoya

In memory of... the Doughboys,
Who went "Over There" to fight.
They ate and slept in a muddy trench;
They suffered shot and shell and poison gas.
They lie now, silently, beneath Cross or Star,
In lonely fields, across the sea, so far.

In memory of... the GI Joes,
Who throughout the world did proudly serve,
In that dreadful "War to end all Wars".
The hundreds of thousands who bravely died
To preserve our precious way of life;
To save the world from pain and strife.

In memory of... those neglected souls,
Who in Korea waged "The Forgotten War."
They faced Siberian cold and scorching heat,
And a Gargantuan foe in a relentless land.
Can we forget the Battle of Pork Chop Hill,
And the more than 8000 that are missing still?

In memory of... those who went, in doubt,
To fight a most unpopular and thankless war.
As they died their peers maligned their deeds;
Their cause decried abroad and here at home.
No regard for the thousands that would sadly fall,
Their names engraved on that cold memorial wall.

In memory of... those who died on desert sands,
And who died "keeping peace" in foreign lands.
Whether hot or cold...wars call for sacrifice,
And our sons and daughters have paid the price.

Let us hold them ever close, in memory,
For they have shown that Freedom Is Not Free.

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