[A Navy Vet]

This Memorial Day will you forget these men and woman? Will you see the day only as another reason to drink beer and fry burgers? Or will you spend the day, an hour, a moment honoring and remembering these Americans who died for YOU? It's not enough that you think about them, our Armed Forces personnel deserve to KNOW we appreciate them and will not be forgotten should they die.

Time is short. Please review the following information and let us know how you will remember these brave souls.
"AMERICA REMEMBERS": VetsCor/FRN Memorial Day Project
National Cemeteries, Memorial Day Ceremonies, & Military Installation Locators
"AMERICA REMEMBERS": Sample Promotion Letter - Please Send Out
E-mail a Service Member
National Moment of Remembrance
National Military Appreciation Month

[A Navy Vet]

Rodger Hunter
rhunter@vets4constrestore.org

[SunStar]

34 of us, and how many hundreds or thousands of the enemy? I'd say our boys are doing good work.

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

[VOA]

Johnny "Mike" Spann, CIA - 32, Winfield, Ala.,

From the 9-11 archive of www.christianchronicle.org
(a website about the mainstream Churches of Christ;
I'm posting this just for the background on Spann and the town he grew up in)
:
Headline News

Churches mourn CIA operative killed in Afghanistan

By Erik Tryggestad
The Christian Chronicle

Mike Spann was dedicated father, Christian, warrior, residents say.


Winfield, Ala. - The line of congregants filed into the Winfield Church of Christ Dec. 6,
remembering in hushed voices an old friend.

"You know he went to school with our kids." "He was a quiet little boy."
"So tragic," they said.

This was Johnny Micheal Spann’s home. He grew up in the Winfield church of about 260 and
dreamed of joining the military and flying a plane like Tom Cruise in the film "Top Gun."

On Nov. 28 the CIA revealed that Spann, known as Mike, was killed in a prison uprising
in Mazar-e-Sharif, Afghanistan. The 32-year-old was the first American casualty on Afghan
soil in the war on terrorism. The news sent a wave of national media crashing down on
Winfield, a town of about 4,500 near the Mississippi border, where Spann’s father,
also named Johnny, and mother, Gail, still live.

Church members lined their cars bumper-to-bumper in front of the Winfield building
to keep television cameras away from the service, which was attended by 400 residents.
Inside, minister James F. Wyers was fielding phone calls from city officials.
Assistant minister Larry Davenport said it was a little overwhelming.

"You think about this happening in some big city — New York City — or California,
not in a town where the big event of the year is Mule Day (a yearly bazaar in Winfield),"
Davenport said. But Wyers said church members from Winfield and nearby towns
"came out of the woodwork" to help, supporting Spann’s parents and his relatives who
were visiting Winfield for the service.

During the emotional memorial, complete with a Marine color guard and 21-gun salute,
the congregation sang "To Canaan’s Land I’m On My Way" and "I’ll Fly Away,"
Mike Spann’s favorite songs.

"He was always attentive and wanted to know everything about God," said Mildred McGuire,
who taught Spann in Sunday school.
Spann graduated from high school in 1987 and went to Auburn University before joining the
Marines, where he spent seven years. While stationed in Okinawa, Japan, Spann and his
first wife, Kathryn, attended church with their daughters Alison, now 9, and Emily,
now 4, said fellow soldier and church member Allan Naugle. "He was then a Marine
chopper pilot — the strong, silent type. But always there," Naugle said.

After joining the CIA, Spann and Kathryn attended the Manassas, Va., church for about
three years before they divorced, said Manassas minister Barry Bryson.
Spann remarried, and he and his second wife, Shannon, started attending the Fairfax,
Va., Church of Christ. They had one son, Jacob, now 6 months old.

"His first priority in his life was to make sure he was right with God," Bryson said of Spann.
"Mike was a one-of-a-kind guy — almost Davidian. He was certainly devoted to God,
(with) a warrior mentality. But (he was) very, very kind."

Kathryn is still part of the Manassas congregation, Bryson said. After the government
called immediate family and told them Spann was missing, his father recommended
they call Bryson, too.

Together with the girls’ caregiver, Bryson told the girls and Kathryn he was missing.
Grandparents and friends were there for support, Bryson said.

Spann was buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia Dec. 10. At the Winfield
service, Spann’s father read a letter, written by Alison, that would be buried
with her father. Alison stood next to her grandfather as he read.

"Thank you, daddy, for making the world a better place. I love you," Alison wrote.
"Everybody’s so proud of you — especially me."

Donations for Spann’s children may be sent to
The Micheal Spann Memorial Trust Fund,
c/o The Citizens Bank
P.O. Box 550
Winfield, AL 35594.

I bolded the last paragraph, just in case the spirit moves anyone...

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

You will stay right where you are on the thread.

Please take a moment and Thank a Service Man or Woman.
Just Click on the logo to send an e-mail.

[Grampa Dave]

Thanks for the post and this poignant reminder.

Our church's prayer list has over 60 names now on it with men and women in our services. Several are in country in Afghanistan.

Sgt. Dwight J. Morgan, USMC - 24, Mendocino, Calif. grew up here and was buried here after his death. His family actually lived in the Ukiah Area when he was killed in action.

Those of us who are religious might want to pray for the souls of those who have been killed and the safety of those who put their lives on the line 24/7 while being in the service this weekend and every church service that we attend.

[91B]

SGT Vance was a special forces soldier from the WV ARNG. According to one story I read he was the first National Guardsman killed on active duty since WWII (maybe the reporter meant from WV).

[VOA]

Sgt. Philip J. Svitak, USA - 31, Joplin, Mo.

(Also from the 9-11 archive of www.christianchronicle.org)

International

Church member killed in Afghanistan skirmish


The Christian Chronicle

Philip Svitak sent Bible verses from Afghanistan to his wife


Clarksville, Tenn. - Members of the Hilldale Church of Christ are mourning the loss
of Philip Svitak, a sergeant with a special operations regiment based at Fort Campbell,
who died March 4 in combat against al-Qaida and Taliban fighters in eastern Afghanistan.

Svitak (pronounced “svee-tak”), 31, of Joplin, Mo., and his wife, Laura, started visiting
the church in September 2001, said pulpit minister Steve Kirby. A military chaplain
had encouraged the Svitaks to find a church home, and after studying with associate
minister Barclay Riley and elder Nick Muiznieks, Philip wanted to be baptized.
His wife wasn’t as sure, but Philip convinced her that they should be baptized together.

“He was an evangelist before he was a Christian,” Riley said.

The Svitaks were baptized Sept. 29, and Philip was deployed to Afghanistan the day
after Thanks-giving, Kirby said.

“Phil would write letters to me daily including Bible verses from his reading that day,”
Laura Svitak said. The Hilldale church hosted a memorial service before Philip
was buried in Joplin March 14. At Laura’s request, the Fourth and Forest church,
Joplin, hosted the visitation and funeral. Hundreds attended, according to local
newspaper the Joplin Globe.

Svitak also is survived by sons Ethan, 5, and Nolan, 2.

Donations for Svitak’s children may be sent to a college fund set up by the
Hilldale church.
Make checks payable to the Hilldale Church of Christ and note ‘Svitak Memorial Fund’ on the check.
Mail contributions to: Hilldale Church of Christ (attention Mary Ellen Young),
501 Highway 76, Clarksville, TN 37043.

Last portion just bolded in case anyone wishes to contribute...

[Demidog]

I don't think this list is comprehensive.

[Fiddlstix]

BTTT

[TomGuy]

Memorial: For Those Who Have Given Their Lives To Fight The War On Terror

[Fish out of Water]

Thanks for posting and *Index Bump

[lodwick]

bttt! Thanks!

[TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig]

bumped

[editor-surveyor]

I really resent the fact that they had to die in this war. - I know so many Afgans that are living here in the lap of luxury, and feel no gratitude whatsoever for the loss those young families must now endure.

How long will Afganistan be free? - Will any of them appreciate the sacrifice of these troops?

[Chad Fairbanks]

Thanks for the ping...

[Chad Fairbanks]

Also, on an unrelated (well, not really) note, I hope all those guys from Florida got to have their vote counted in the last election - If I hear that any of them had their votes discarded, I'm gonna be pissed...

[StAthanasiustheGreat]

To These brave servicemen and their families, Thank you and may God Bless you and shine His light upon you. God Bless

[Eastbound]

Great effort, A Navy Vet. An In Memorium bump from another Navy vet.

[McGavin999]

Thanks for posting this, I won't forget them. Nor will I forget all those who have gone before in order to provide us with the freedom we enjoy every day.