[Happy2BMe]

"The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional to how they perceive veterans of early wars were treated and appreciated by our nation." - George Washington

[NewsFlash]

God Bless these Heroes. May God rest their souls and guide and comfort the loved ones left behind.

Thanks for this heartfelt Tribute.

[ladyinred]

Heroes one and all.
What a touching memorial to our fallen soldiers. I pray for comfort for their loved ones, and that each one knows how much we appreciate their sacrifice.

[Arkinsaw]

They died for their families, they died for their compatriots, they died for their fellow citizens, and they died for the future of millions of people who they didn't even know and millions yet unborn.

[goodnesswins]

THANK YOU for this.....would be great to get some ping lists involved....paging ...rintense, CyberCowboy....

They GAVE the gift of FREEDOM.

[exit82]

Where do we get such men? God has indeed blessed America.

[US_MilitaryRules]

Thank You.

[SteveAustin]

This was an excellent and moving piece...thank you for posting it.

I love Freep, and know that funds need to be raised to keep this site going, but wish that the automatic fundraising posts didn't have to pop up on this thread in post #2.

It really is inappropriate for this particular thread.

[Spruce]

Operation Iraqi Freedom U.S. Army Capt. James F. Adamouski, 29, Springfield, Va., April 2, 2003, Iraq Spc. Jamaal R. Addison, 22, Roswell, Ga., March 23, 2003, Iraq Capt. Tristan N. Aitken, 31, State College, Pa., April 4, 2003, Iraq Pfc. Wilfred D. Bellard, 20, Lake Charles, La., April 4, 2003, Iraq Spc. Mathew G. Boule, 22, Dracut, Mass., April 2, 2003, Iraq Cpl. Henry L. Brown, 22, Natchez, Miss., April 8, 2003, Iraq Spc. Larry K. Brown, 22, Jackson, Miss., April 5, 2003, Iraq Sgt. George Edward Buggs, 31, Barnwell, S.C., March 23, 2003, Iraq Sgt. Jacob L. Butler, 24, Wellsville, Kan., April 1, 2003, Iraq Spc. Daniel Francis J. Cunningham, 33, Lewiston, Maine, April 4, 2003, Iraq Spc. Michael Edward Curtin, 23, South Plains, N.J., March 29, 2003, Iraq Staff Sgt. Wilbert Davis, 40, Alaska, April 3, 2003, Iraq Master Sgt. Robert J. Dowdy, 38, Cleveland, Ohio, March 23, 2003, Iraq Pvt. Ruben Estrella-Soto, 18, El Paso, Texas, March 23, 2003, Iraq Master Sgt. George A. Fernandez, 36, El Paso, Texas, April 3, 2003, Iraq Chief Warrant Officer Erik A. Halvorsen, 40, Bennington, Vt., April 2, 2003, Iraq Chief Warrant Officer Scott Jamar, 32, Granbury, Texas, April 2, 2003, Iraq Spc. William A. Jeffries, 39, hometown unavailable, March 26, 2003, Spain (after evacuation from Kuwait) Pfc. Howard Johnson II, 21, Mobile, Ala., March 23, 2003, Iraq Pvt. Devon D. Jones, 19, San Diego, Calif., April 4, 2003, Iraq 2nd Lt. Jeffrey J. Kaylor, 24, Clifton, Va., April 7, 2003, Iraq Spc. James M. Kiehl, 22, Des Moines, Iowa, March 23, 2003, Iraq Capt. Edward J. Korn, 31, Savannah, Ga., April 3, 2003, Iraq Staff Sgt. Nino D. Livaudais, 23, Utah, April 3, 2003, Iraq Spc. Ryan P. Long, 21, Seaford, Del., April 3, 2003, Iraq Chief Warrant Officer Johnny Villareal Mata, 35, El Paso, Texas, March 23, 2003, Iraq Pfc. Jason M. Meyer, 23, Swartz Creek, Mich., April 8, 2003, Iraq Pfc. Anthony S. Miller, 19, San Antonio, Texas, April, 7, 2003, Iraq Spc. George A. Mitchell, 35, Rawlings, Md., April 7, 2003, Iraq Spc. Donald S. Oaks Jr., 20, Erie, Pa., April 3, 2003, Iraq Sgt. Michael F. Pedersen, 26, Flint, Mich., April 2, 2003, Iraq Pfc. Lori Ann Piestewa, 23, Tuba City, Ariz., March 23, 2003, Iraq Pvt. Kelley S. Prewitt, 24, Alabama, April 6, 2003, Iraq Sgt. 1st Class Randall S. Rehn, 36, Longmont, Colo., April 3, 2003, Iraq Pfc. Diego Fernando Rincon, 19, Conyers, Ga., March 29, 2003, Iraq Capt. Russell B. Rippetoe, 27, Colorado., April 3, 2003, Iraq Sgt. Todd J. Robbins, 33, Pentwater, Mich., April 3, 2003, Iraq Spc. Brandon J. Rowe, 20, Roscoe, Ill., March 31, 2003, Iraq Spc. Gregory P. Sanders, 19, Indiana, March 24, 2003, Iraq Capt. Christopher Scott Seifert, 27, hometown unavailable, March 22, 2003, Kuwait Pvt. Brandon Ulysses Sloan, 19, Bedford, Ohio, March 23, 2003, Iraq Chief Warrant Officer Eric A. Smith, 41, California, April 2, 2003, Iraq Sgt. 1st Class Paul R. Smith, 33, Tampa, Fla., April 4, 2003, Iraq Sgt. Roderic A. Solomon , 32, Fayetteville, N.C., March 23, 2003, Iraq Staff Sgt. Robert A. Stever, 36, Pendleton, Ore., April 8, 2003, Iraq Spc. Brandon S. Tobler, 19, hometown unavailable, March 23, 2003, Iraq Sgt. Donald Ralph Walters, 33, Salem, Ore., March 23, 2003. Iraq Pfc. Michael Russell Creighton Weldon, 20, Palm Bay, Fla., March 29, 2003, Iraq Sgt. Eugene Williams, 24, Highland, N.Y., March 29, 2003, Iraq U.S. Navy Lt. Thomas Mullen Adams, 27, La Mesa, Calif., March 22, 2003, Over International Waters Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Michael Vann Johnson, Jr., 25, Little Rock, Ark., March 25, 2003, Iraq U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Scott D. Sather, 29, Clio, Mich., April 8, 2003, Iraq Maj. Gregory Stone, 40, Boise, Idaho, March 25, 2003, Kuwait U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Brian E. Anderson, 26, Durham, N.C., April 2, 2003, Iraq Maj. Jay Thomas Aubin, 36, Waterville, Maine, March 20, 2003, Kuwait Pfc. Chad E. Bales, 20, Coahoma, Texas, April 3, 2003, Iraq Capt. Ryan Anthony Beaupre, 30, Bloomington, Ill., March 20, 2003, Kuwait Sgt. Michael E. Bitz, 31, Ventura, Calif., March 23, 2003, Iraq Lance Cpl. Thomas A. Blair, 24, Wagoner, Okla., March 24, 2003, Iraq Lance Cpl. Brian Rory Buesing, 20, Cedar Key, Fla., March 23, 2003, Iraq Staff Sgt. James W. Cawley, 41, Roy, Utah, March 29, 2003, Iraq 2nd Lt. Therrel S. Childers, 30, Harrison, Miss., March 21, 2003, Iraq Capt. Aaron J. Contreras, 31, Sherwood, Ore., March 30, 2003, Iraq Cpl. Mark A. Evnin, 21, Burlington, Vt., April 3, 2003, Iraq Capt. Travis A. Ford, 30, Ogallala, Neb., April 4, 2003, Iraq Lance Cpl. David K. Fribley, 26, Lee, Fla., March 23, 2003, Iraq Cpl. Jose A. Garibay, 21, Orange, Calif., March 23, 2003, Iraq Pfc. Juan Guadalupe Garza Jr., 20, Temperance, Mich., April 8, 2003, Iraq Cpl. Bernard G. Gooden, 22, Mt. Vernon, N.Y., April 4, 2003, Iraq Pfc. Christian D. Gurtner, 19, Ohio City, Ohio, April 2, 2003, Iraq Lance Cpl. Jose Gutierrez, 22, Los Angeles, March 21, 2003, Iraq Cpl. Jorge A. Gonzalez, 20, Los Angeles, Calif., March 23, 2003, Iraq Sgt. Nicolas M. Hodson, 22, Smithville, Mo., March 24, 2003, Iraq Cpl. Evan T. James, 20, Hancock, Ill., March 24, 2003, Iraq Staff Sgt. Phillip A. Jordan, 42, Brazoria, Texas, March 23, 2003, Iraq Cpl. Brian Matthew Kennedy, 25, Houston, Texas, March 20, 2003, Kuwait Sgt. Bradley S. Korthaus, 28, Scott, Iowa, March 24, Iraq Sgt. Michael V. Lalush, 23, Troutville, Va., March 30, 2003, Iraq Cpl. Joseph B. Maglione, 22, Lansdale, Pa., April 1, 2003, Kuwait Pfc. Francisco A. MartinezFlores, 21, Los Angeles, Calif., March 25, 2003, Iraq Staff Sgt. Donald C. May, Jr., 31, Richmond, Va., March 25, 2003, Iraq Marine Sgt. Brian D. McGinnis, 23, St. George, Del., March 30, 2003, Iraq 1st Lt. Brian M. McPhillips, 25, Pembroke, Mass., April 4, 2003, Iraq Gunnery Sgt. Joseph Menusa, 33, San Jose, Calif., March 27, 2003, Iraq Major Kevin G. Nave, 36, Union Lake, Mich., March 26, 2003, Iraq Lance Cpl. Patrick R. Nixon, 21, Nashville, Tenn., March 23, 2003, Iraq Lance Cpl. Patrick T. O'Day, 20, Sonoma, Calif., March 25, 2003, Iraq Lance Cpl. Eric J. Orlowski, 26, Buffalo, N.Y., March 24, 2003, Iraq Sgt. Fernando Padilla-Ramirez, 26, San Luis, Ariz., March 28, 2003, Iraq 2nd Lt. Frederick E. Pokorney Jr., 31, Nye, Nev., March 23, 2003, Iraq Sgt. Duane R. Rios, 25, Hammond, Ind., April 4, 2003, Iraq Cpl. Robert M. Rodriguez, 21, Queens, N.Y., March 27, 2003, Iraq Cpl. Randal Kent Rosacker, 21, San Diego, Calif., March 23, 2003, Iraq Capt. Benjamin W. Sammis, 29, Rehoboth, Mass., April 4, 2003, Iraq Cpl. Erik H. Silva, 22, Chula Vista, Calif., April 3, 2003, Iraq Lance Cpl. Thomas J. Slocum, age unknown, Adams, Colo., March 23, 2003, Iraq Lance Cpl. Jesus A. Suarez Del Solar, 20, Escondido, Calif., March 27, 2003, Iraq Staff Sgt. Kendall Damon Watersbey, 29, Baltimore, Md., March 20, 2003, Kuwait Lance Cpl. William W. White, 24, Brooklyn, N.Y., March 29, 2003, Iraq Lance Cpl. Michael J. Williams, 31, Yuma, Ariz., March 23, 2003, Iraq Operation Enduring Freedom U.S. Army Spc. Marc A. Anderson, 30, Brandon, Fla., March 4, 2002, Afghanistan Sgt. Michael C. Barry, 29, Brandon, Fla., February 1, 2003, Qatar Spc. Curtis A. Carter, 25, Lafayette, La., February 27, 2002, Kuwait Sgt. 1st Class Nathan R. Chapman, 31, San Antonio, Texas, January 4, 2002, Afghanistan Sgt. Steven Checo, 22, New York, December 20, 2002, Afghanistan Spc. Brian M. Clemens, Indiana, February 7, 2003, Kuwait Pfc. Matthew A. Commons, 21, Boulder City, Nev., March 4, 2002, Afghanistan Staff Sgt. Brian T. Craig, 27, Houston, Texas, April 15, 2002, Afghanistan Sgt. Bradley S. Crose, 22, Orange Park, Fla., March 4, 2002, Afghanistan Master Sgt. Jefferson D. Davis, 39, Clarksville, Tenn., December 5, 2001, Afghanistan Spc. Jason A. Disney, 21, Fallon, Nev., February 13, 2002, Afghanistan Pvt. James H. Ebbers, 19, Bridgeview, Ill, October 14, 2002, Djibuoti, Africa Spc. John J. Edmunds, 20, Cheyenne, Wyo., October 19, 2001, Pakistan Sgt. Ryan D. Foraker, 31, Logan, Ohio, September 24, 2002, Guantanamo, Cuba Sgt. Gregory M. Frampton, 37, California, January 30, 2003, Afghanistan Staff Sgt. Justin J. Galewski, 28, Olathe, Kan., April 15, 2002, Afghanistan Chief Warrant Officer Thomas J. Gibbons, 31, Maryland, January 30, 2003, Afghanistan Spc. Rodrigo Gonzalez-Garza, 26, Texas, February 24, 2003, Kuwait Chief Warrant Officer Two Stanley L. Harriman, 34, Wade, N.C., March 2, 2002, Afghanistan Staff Sgt. Daniel L. Kisling, Jr., 31 Missouri, January 30, 2003, Afghanistan Pvt. Giovanny Maria, 19, New York, N.Y., November 29, 2001, Uzbekistan Sgt. Jamie O. Maugans, 27, Wichita, Kan., April 15, 2002, Afghanistan Pfc. Spence A. McNeil, 19, Bennettsville, S.C., March 8, 2003, Saudi Arabia Chief Warrant Officer Timothy W. Moehling, 35, Florida, February 24, 2003, Kuwait Sgt. Orlando Morales, 33, Manati, Puerto Rico, Afghanistan Chief Warrant Officer Mark S. O’Steen, 43, Alabama, January 30, 2003, Afghanistan Spec. Pedro Pena, 35, Fla., November 7, 2002, Kuwait Sgt. 1st Class Daniel H. Petithory, 32, Cheshire, Mass., December 5, 2001, Afghanistan Staff Sgt. Brian C. Prosser, 28, Frazier Park, Calif., December 5, 2001, Afghanista Sgt. 1st Class Daniel A. Romero, 30, Lafayette, Colo., April 15, 2002, Afghanistan Chief Warrant Officer John D. Smith, 32, Nevada, February 24, 2003, Kuwait Sgt. 1st Class Christopher J. Speer, 28, Albuquerque, N.M., August 7, 2002, Afghanistan Pfc. Kristofor T. Stonesifer, 28, Missoula, Mont., October 19, 2001, Pakistan Sgt. Philip J. Svitak, 31, Joplin, Mo., March 4, 2002, Afghanistan Spc. William J. Tracy, 27, of New Hampshire, February 24, 2003, Kuwait Sgt. 1st Class Peter P. Tycz II, 32, Tonawanda, N.Y., June 12, 2002, Afghanistan Sgt. Gene A. Vance Jr., 38, Morgantown, W.V., May 19, 2002, Afghanistan U.S. Navy Chief Petty Officer Matthew J. Bourgeois, 35, Tallahassee, Fla., March 27, 2002, Afghanistan Machinist’s Mate Fireman Apprentice Bryant L. Davis, 20, Chicago, Ill., November 7, 2001, Arabian Sea Electrician’s Mate Fireman Apprentice Michael J. Jakes Jr., 20, Brooklyn, N.Y., December 4, 2001, Northern Arabian Sea Engineman 1st Class Vincent Parker, 38, Preston, Miss., November 18, 2001, Persian Gulf Aviation Boatswain’s Mate-Handling 1st Class Neil C. Roberts, 32, Woodland, Calif., March 4, 2002, Afghanistan Electronics Technician 3rd Class Benjamin Johnson, 21, Rochester, N.Y., November 18, 2001, Persian Gulf U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Evander E. Andrews, 36, Salon, Maine, October 10, 2001, Northern Arabian Peninsula 1st Lt. Tamara Archuleta, 23, Los Lunas, N.M., March 23, 2003, Afghanistan Tech. Sgt. John A. Chapman, 36, Waco, Texas, March 4, 2002, Afghanistan Tech. Sgt. Sean M. Corlew, 37, Thousand Oaks, Calif., June 12, 2002, Afghanistan Senior Airman Jason D. Cunningham, 26, Camarillo, Calif., March 4, 2002, Afghanistan Staff Sgt. Jacob L. Frazier, 24, St. Charles, Ill., March 29, 2003, Afghanistan Staff Sgt. Jason Hicks, 25, Jefferson, S.C., March 23, 2003, Afghanistan Master Sgt. Michael Maltz, 42, St. Petersburg, Fla., March 23, 2003, Afghanistan Senior Airman Jason Plite, 21, Lansing, Mich., March 23, 2003, Afghanistan Staff Sgt. Anissa A. Shero, 31, Grafton, W.Va., June 12, 2002, Afghanistan Lt. Col. John Stein, 39, Bardolph, Ill., March 23, 2003, Afghanistan Staff Sgt. John Teal, 29, Dallas, Texas, March 23, 2003, Afghanistan U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Matthew W. Bancroft, 29, Shasta, Calif., January 9, 2002, Pakistan Lance Cpl. Bryan P. Bertrand, 23, Coos Bay, Ore., January 9, 2002, Pakistan Gunnery Sgt. Stephen L. Bryson, 35, Montgomery, Ala., January 9, 2002, Pakistan Staff Sgt. Walter F. Cohee III, 26, Wicomico, Md., January 20, 2002, Afghanistan Staff Sgt. Scott N. Germosen, 37, Queens, N.Y., January 9, 2002, Pakistan Sgt. Nathan P. Hays, 21, Lincoln, Wash., January 9, 2002, Pakistan Capt. Daniel G. McCollum, 29, Richland, S.C., January 9, 2002, Pakistan Staff Sgt. Dwight J. Morgan, 24, Mendocino, Calif., January 20, 2002, Afghanistan Lance Cpl. Antonio J. Sledd, 20, Tampa, Fla., October 8, 2002, Kuwait Sgt. Jeannette L. Winters, 25, Du Page, Ill., January 9, 2002, Pakistan CIA Johnny Michael Spann, 32, Winfield, Ala., November 25, 2002, Afghanistan Operation Enduring Freedom - Phillipines U.S. Army Spec. Thomas F. Allison, 22, Roy, Washington, February 21, 2002 Staff Sgt. James P. Dorrity, 37, Goldsboro, N.C., February 21, 2002 Chief Warrant Officer 2 Jody L. Egnor, 32, Middletown, Ohio, February 21, 2002 Maj. Curtis D. Feistner, 34, White Bear Lake, Minn., February 21, 2002 Sgt. Jeremy D. Foshee, 25, Pisgah, Ala., February 21, 2002 Staff Sgt. Kerry W. Frith, 37, Las Vegas, Nev., February 21, 2002 Sgt. 1st Class Mark Wayne Jackson, 40, of Glennie, Mich., October 2, 2002 Capt. Bartt D. Owens, 31, Middletown, Ohio, February 21, 2002 Staff Sgt. Bruce A. Rushforth, Jr., 35, Middleboro, Mass., February 21, 2002 U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. William L. McDaniel II, 29, Greenville, Ohio, February 21, 2002 Staff Sgt. Juan M. Ridout, 36, Maple Tree, Wash., February 21, 2002

The look on this child's face will comfort these brave souls!

[WorkingClassFilth]

No matter what I can achieve in life, these men, many in their teens, will stand as the greats that can never be matched. I have great hope for America if we can continue to produce the kind of soldiers we have witnessed in the last weeks. God bless these men and their families.

[Brimack34]

I can only hope the erect a memorial too the fallen soldiers on the grounds of the new Iraq capital!!!!

[Crusader21stCentury]

I am the child playing in the sun.

I am the student following my choice of studies.

I am the parent watching my children smile and grow.

I am even the protestor disagreeing with government policy.

I could be none of these things without you.

The Men and Women of the

UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES

Thank you for all your sacrifices.

God bless you all.

[USMC_tangocharlie]

Great post!! Thanks so much!

oooh-rah

Marines, say hello to Chesty for me.

Tango

[Dick Bachert]

To fallen soldiers let us sing
Where no rockets fly nor bullets wing
Our broken brothers let us bring
To the Mansions of the Lord

No more bleeding, no more fight
No prayers pleading through the night
Just divine embrace, eternal light
In the Mansions of the Lord

Where no mothers cry and no children weep
We will stand and guard though the angels sleep
Through the ages safely keep
The Mansions of the Lord

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

Thank You for this tribute to those who gave their all.
May God Welcome them Home and comfort their family and friends.

[Kay Soze]

Thank you Jesus for men such as these.

These men have died so my sons will be free.

God Bless them.

May God Bless their families and heal their wounds.

[sonofatpatcher2]

To the men and women who have given their last, full measure of devotion:

In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea,
With a glory in His bosom that transfigures you and me:
As He died to make men holy,
let us die to make men free,
While God is marching on.

This part of "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" has never fails to bring tears to my eyes.

As has this from "13 Days of Glory":

"Now the bugles are silent
And there's rust on each sword
And the small band of soldiers...
Lie asleep in the arms of the Lord...

Bless them,God. Bless them All.

[weikel]

Bump

[MeekOneGOP]

Click here
for “Taps”

[knighthawk]

Thanks for the article and ping.

[SAMWolf]

Thanks Happy2BMe