Let this be a reminder for all of us that there are heroes from the Shenandoah Valley, fighting bravely overseas during the holiday season.  Consider getting involved with Operation Show We Care, a local effort to send care packages to our troops abroad and at Walter Reed.

From the WaPo article:

Clarke graduated from James Madison University in 2005 and then enlisted in the Special Forces as a medic.

He deployed to Afghanistan’s Uruzgan province with the 3rd Special Forces group in January 2009, but soon after his 12-man team arrived, its senior medic was killed by insurgents. Eight days later, on Feb. 20, Clarke and his team were on patrol when insurgents struck again.

A massive roadside bomb ripped into the team’s rear vehicle, setting it ablaze and fatally wounding three servicemen. Insurgents then attacked the lead vehicle with rocket-propelled grenades and heavy gunfire.

Clarke ran through a barrage of gunfire to the vehicle, finding Staff Sgt. Eric Engelhardt lying near the wreckage, his legs broken and back fractured. The burning vehicle was loaded with ammunition and explosives that were detonating inches away, but Clarke applied a tourniquet to Engelhardt and then pulled him away from the vehicle to a safer position.

He then ran back 100 yards through gunfire to aid other wounded.

“Sergeant Clarke’s actions on 20 February went well above and beyond the call of duty,” according to an official military narrative of the action. “He repeatedly faced imminent danger and at no point, did he show any regard for his personal safety.”

Nevertheless, Clarke said he felt he didn’t deserve the medal.

“I feel guilty for being recognized for this award,” said Clarke, who has extended his enlistment to be able to deploy again with his unit.

Thank you. It is an honor to be here on behalf of the city council and the residents of Harrisonburg to dedicate this memorial to fallen soldiers of Harrisonburg and Rockingham County.

This memorial shall stand as a reminder for us of each individual person who gave the ultimate sacrifice to protect our nation, our freedom, and peace on Earth.

As we begin attending baseball games and other activities in this beautiful new stadium, we have the opportunity to not only honor our fallen each time we pass the memorial, but to do their acrifice justice by remembering what their sacrifice made possible.

They allowed for us to peacefully gather here today; to have a safe place to raise a family and educate our youth; to make America, the Commonwealth of Virginia, and the central Shenandoah Valley a destination for people from around the world who come to call this place home.

Most importantly, the soldiers we honor today protected our ability to add our voice to the decisions made by our government.  Whether it be about a golf course, a school being sold, chickens in the backyard, or how to best provide for for the health and welfare of our citizens, we can honor our fallen soldiers and those who serve, past and present, by participating vigorously and respectfully in our democracy with each passing day.

May this memorial stand to honor our fallen and the core principles of the democracy they fought to protect.  Let us never forget them or disrespect them by not casting the votes – our votes – that they died to protect.

If you’re wondering about a free birthday gift you can give, register for the Oct 22 Harrisonburg Intercultural/Interfaith Summit and/or the Nov 14 Sustainability Summit II!

And, yes – I’ll take it easy on birthday cake.