Remembering those who served

General, Local, National, Virginia 3 Minutes

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From Wikipedia:

Memorial Day is a United States federal holiday that is observed on the last Monday of May. It was formerly known as Decoration Day. This holiday commemorates U.S. men and women who died in military service for their country. It began first to honor Union soldiers who died during the American Civil War. After World War I, it expanded to include those who died in any war or military action.

We sometimes forget the reason for this holiday. No, it is not to give us another three-day weekend. Nor is it just simply the start of the season in which wearing white is acceptable. It is a day to remember those who have made the ultimate sacrifice – giving their lives – so that we might live free.

At 3pm today, stop whatever you are doing, put aside partisanship, and join fellow Americans in a moment of silence as a tribute to the fine women and men who have served. My own tribute will be to recognize the members of the Armed Services from Hampton Roads, who have given their lives in the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts. From the Virginian-Pilot, these are:

  • Navy Chief Petty Officer Matthew J. Bourgeois, 35, of Virginia Beach. Died March 28, 2002, in an explosion near Kandahar, Afghanistan.
  • Marine Lance Cpl. Kyle W. Brown, 22, of Newport News. Killed Jan. 7, 2006, by light arms fire near Fallujah, Iraq.
  • Coast Guard Petty Officer 3rd Class Nathan B. Bruckenthal, 24, assigned to the Firebolt, a patrol craft based at Little Creek Amphibious Base. Killed April 24, 2004, in a boat bombing in Iraqi waters.
  • Army Staff Sgt. Marshall H. Caddy, 27, of Nags Head. Died Nov. 16, 2004, in a vehicle collision in Khaladiyah, Iraq.
  • Army Sgt. Carlos M. Camacho-Rivera, 24, based at Fort Story. Killed Nov. 5, 2004, in a rocket attack outside Fallujah, Iraq.
  • Army Sgt. Kenith Casica, 32, of Virginia Beach. Killed Dec. 10, 2005, by small arms fire in Baghdad.
  • Army Pvt. Jason L. Deibler, 20, of Hampton. Killed May 4, 2003, by a noncombat weapon discharge in Kuwait.
  • Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Danny P. Dietz, 25, of Virginia Beach. Killed June 28, 2005, by enemy fire in Kunar Province, Afghanistan.
  • Army Spec. Jeremy M. Dimaranan, 29, of Virginia Beach. Killed June 16, 2004, during a mortar attack in Balad, Iraq.
  • Marine Capt. James C. Edge, 31, of Virginia Beach. Killed April 14, 2005, by small arms fire in Ramadi, Iraq.
  • Army Spec. Raymond J. Faulstich Jr., 24, based at Fort Eustis. Killed Aug. 5, 2004, in a convoy attack in Najaf, Iraq.
  • Army Staff Sgt. Jason A. Fegler, 24, of Virginia Beach. Died Nov. 4, 2005, possibly from friendly fire, in Baghdad.
  • Navy Chief Petty Officer Jacques J. Fontan, 36, based in Virginia Beach. Died June 28, 2005, in a helicopter crash near Asadabad, Afghanistan.
  • Army CWO Travis W. Grogan, 31, of Virginia Beach. Died Nov. 27, 2004, when his aircraft crashed in Bamian, Afghanistan.
  • Navy Lt. Cmdr. Erik Kristensen, 33, of Virginia Beach. Killed June 28, 2005, in a helicopter crash near Asadabad, Afghanistan.
  • Army Pfc. Lee A. Lewis Jr., 28 of Norfolk. Died March 18, 2005, when his patrol was fired upon in Sadr City, Iraq.
  • Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Jeffery A. Lucas, 33, based in Virginia Beach. Killed June 28, 2005, in a helicopter crash near Asadabad, Afghanistan.
  • Army Cpl. George Anthony Lutz, 25, of Chesapeake. Killed Dec. 29, 2005 by sniper fire near Fallujah, Iraq.
  • Navy Lt. Michael M. McGreevy Jr., 30, based in Virginia Beach. Killed June 28, 2005, in a helicopter crash near Asadabad, Afghanistan.
  • Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Brian Ouellette, 37, of Virginia Beach. Killed May 29, 2004, when his vehicle hit a mine in Zabul, Afghanistan.
  • Marine Sgt. Jayton D. Patterson, 26, of Sedley. Died Jan. 15, 2005, in action in Babil Province, Iraq.
  • Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Michael J. Pernaselli, 27, a Firebolt crew member. Killed April 24, 2004, in a boat bombing in Iraqi waters.
  • Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Thomas E. Retzer, 30, of Virginia Beach. Died June 26, 2003, from wounds sustained in a convoy attack near Gardez, Afghanistan.
  • Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Neil Roberts, 32, of Virginia Beach. Died March 4, 2002, after falling from a helicopter in eastern Afghanistan.
  • Marine Lance Cpl. Darrell J. Schumann, 25, of Hampton. Died Jan. 26, 2005, in a helicopter crash near Ar Rutbah, Iraq.
  • Army Pfc. Pendelton L. Sykes II, 25, of Chesapeake. Killed April 6, 2005, in a helicopter crash in Ghazni, Afghanistan.
  • Navy Petty Officer 1st Class David M. Tapper, 32, based in Virginia Beach. Died Aug. 20, 2003, from combat wounds suffered near Orgun, Afghanistan.
  • Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Jeffrey S. Taylor, 30, based in Virginia Beach. Killed June 28, 2005, in a helicopter crash near Asadabad, Afghanistan.
  • Army Sgt. Tromaine K. Toy Sr., 24, of Eastville. Died April 16, 2005, during combat in Ar Ramadi, Iraq.
  • Army Pfc. Andrew L. Tuazon, 21, of Chesapeake. Killed May 10, 2004, by hostile fire in Mosul, Iraq.
  • Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Christopher Watts, 28, a Firebolt crew member. Killed April 24, 2004, in a boat bombing in Iraqi waters.
  • Army Staff Sgt. Romanes L. Woodard, 30, of Hertford. Killed April 6, 2005, in a helicopter crash in Ghazni, Afghanistan.
  • Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Travis L. Youngblood, 26, of Smithfield. Died July 21, 2005 from wounds sustained by an improvised explosive device in Hit, Iraq.
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