Free Republic

The Vermont Press in Honoring Vermont's Fallen Patriot Mark Evnin By: Robert Skinner Politicsvt.com The ultimate show of patriotism is putting one's life at risk then losing that life in defending America against its enemies. At this moment in the Middle East, and around the world, many Vermont patriots are in harm's way sacrificing on many levels to make safe our security and our freedoms. Sadly, two Vermonters, 21 year old USMC Cpl. Mark Evnin and 40 year old army petty officer Erik Halvorsen, just made the "ultimate sacrifice" for America. Mark and Erik died in combat against a brutal...

Dorothy Oxendine presides over American Gold Star Mothers Inc., a national organization of women whose sons and daughters have died in military service to the nation. (Photo by Mark Abraham) AMERICAN IDENTITY With the Iraq War, a New Generation of Gold Star Mothers BY DELIA M. RIOS More stories by Delia M. Rios WASHINGTON -- As Dorothy Oxendine knows, the most dreaded words a parent can hear are "We regret to inform you ..." She lost her only son, Pfc. Willie F. Oxendine III, to a land mine in Vietnam on May 30, 1968. His death at age 21...

he night before her son left for Kuwait, Ruth Aitken argued with him on the telephone for nearly three hours. From her living room in State College, Pa., she told him that a war with Iraq made no sense, that it was really a scuffle over oil. Her son, an Army captain based at Fort Stewart, Ga., countered that America needed to be protected from terrorists. "Mother," he finally told her, "it's my job." The argument — a "major confrontation" in Ms. Aitken's memory — was by no means their first debate over the war, but it was their last....

Names of the four US Marines who died in yesterday's helicopter crash: Maj. Jay Thomas Aubin, 36, of Waterville, Maine Capt. Ryan Anthony Beaupre, 30, of Bloomington, Ill. Cpl. Brian Matthew Kennedy, 25, of Houston, Texas Staff Sgt. Kendall Damon Watersbey, 29, of Baltimore, Md. The Pentagon has just released the names of two more US Marines who were killed in Iraq. I'll post as soon as I find that.

I need some help. I went through basic and AIT at Ft. Benning with a guy whose last name was Halvorson and I'm pretty sure his first name was Eric. I just saw a picture of someone who sorta looked like him on MSNBC with the same name. They said he was killed. I remember he came from oe of the Dakotas or Minnesota. I last saw him two years ago in California but I'd still like to know if it was him. Any help would be appreciated.

Marine Corporal Mark Evnin, 21 of South Burlington, died after a fire fight in Iraq. His family was informed late Thursday. Today the community mourns. Fielding some tough phone calls, Principal Pat Burke of South Burlington High School both comforts and is comforted by friends in this tight knit community. Mark Evnin was a graduate of the class of 2000. He was shot and killed while serving his country as a scout sniper. Evnin grew up in South Burlington, so the school community is mourning the loss of one of its own. On the football field he was #72, a...