We Shall Keep the Faith
Oh! you who sleep in Flanders Fields,
Sleep sweet - to rise anew!
We caught the torch you threw
And holding high, we keep the Faith
With All who died.
We cherish, too, the poppy red
That grows on fields where valor led;
It seems to signal to the skies
That blood of heroes never dies,
But lends a lustre to the red
Of the flower that blooms above the dead
In Flanders Fields.
And now the Torch and Poppy Red
We wear in honor of our dead.
Fear not that ye have died for naught;
We'll teach the lesson that ye wrought
In Flanders Fields.
by Moina Michael
1st Sgt. John D. Blair
From the Department of Defense:
1st Sgt. John D. Blair, 38, of Calhoun, Ga., died June 20 in Mado Zayi, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when a rocket-propelled grenade struck his vehicle. He was an Army National Guardsman assigned to the 1st Battalion, 121st Infantry Regiment, Lawrenceville, Ga.
And online tribute to Sgt. Blair included the following biography:
First Sgt John D Blair of Calhoun, Georgia graduated from Cumberland High School in Harlan County, Kentucky in 1990. Many years later, after moving to Georgia, the National Guardsman was a stepfather of two and a devoted grandfather. After his tour in Iraq, he planned to dig out a lake for catfish on his property back in Georgia so he could take his grandson fishing. The former deputy sheriff in Gordon County, Georgia was attached to the local Drug Task Force as part of the Georgia Army National Guard's counter-drug operations for several years. John served as a full-time deputy sheriff from June, 1994 until August, 1998 when he left the Sheriff's Office to assume full time duties in the National Guard.
During his local service with the National Guard's counter-drug operations, John served as a reserve deputy sheriff from October, 2006 until December, 2008, when his National Guard unit was mobilized for duty in Afghanistan. He was an extraordinarily skilled operative, specializing in covert drug-enforcement surveillance. During his time in the Sheriff's Office, John served as a jail officer, deputy sheriff, & sheriff's detective. He also served on the Office's honor guard, & SWAT team. His former superiors described him as an exemplary officer.
From Examiner.com:
"He pushed me to a point where I didn’t think I can be. If it wasn’t for him, I never would have gone to Ranger school. Now that he’s gone, it’s the only thing I know how to do. He used to tell us that integrity was the checks and balances in life. You don’t ever give up. You don’t ever stop. As long as you believe that you are doing the right thing, you won’t be wrong," said Spc. Robert Love, 22.
"He was proud of his country, proud of the guys he served with," Love said. "Before we got on the bus, he said, ‘I don’t think I could ask to go with a better group of guys.’ I don’t think he doubted one person here. He believed in us. God, I am gonna miss him. I miss him already. But we are going to wake up, put our boots on and do what we came here to do. Old Charlie Mike, as they say. Continue Mission."
From the Department of Defense:
The Department of Defense announced today the death of two soldiers who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. They died June 21 in Bagram, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when their unit was attacked by indirect fire.
Killed were:
Sgt. Ricky D. Jones, 26, of Plantersville, Ala. He was assigned to the 1st Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, Fort Polk, La.
Spc. Rodrigo A. Munguia Rivas, 27, of Germantown, Md. He was assigned to the 710th Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), Fort Drum, N.Y.
Sgt. Ricky D. Jones
From the Selma-Times Journal:
Everybody knew him as "Mojo." But officially, he was known as U.S. Army Sgt. Ricky Dewayne Jones...
"I don't know how he got the name Mojo," said his mother, Shelia McCrary. "I was young when I had him. His grandmother and grandfather must have given him that name. Maybe because he moved so fast."
And Jones was known at Dallas County High School for his speed. He was a running back on the varsity football team. No. 3.
"He was the best No. 3," his mother said.
Spc. Rodrigo A. Munguia Rivas
From an online tribute for Spc. Manguia
Spc Rodrigo Munguiarivas of Germantown, Maryland attended school in the Montgomery county district where he was bright, good-natured and friendly graduating from Col. Zadok Magruder High School in 2000. He joined the United States Navy after graduation serving for four years, including a tour in Iraq. He then joined the Army in April 2008. After completing training at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico and Fort Leanord Wood, Missouri, he came to Fort Drum in July 2008, deploying to Afghanistan in January 2009.
His awards and decorations include the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon and the NATO Medal.
He is survived by his mother and stepfather... He is survived by his mother and stepfather. He was an only son.
From the Washington Post:
Spec. Rodrigo A. Munguia Rivas, 27, who went to school in Montgomery County, began active duty with the Army a little more than a year ago.
In a solemn military ceremony, his flag-draped remains were carried off an airplane yesterday at Dover Air Force base in Delaware.
...
A neighbor who answered the telephone yesterday evening at his parents' home in Gaithersburg said he was bright, good-natured and friendly, someone who could be described as "simpatico."
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What You Can Do
There are a number of wonderful organizations out there which could use your help:
* Anysoldier.com
* Operation Helmet
* Fisher House
* Books for Soldiers
* Operation Ensuring Christmas
(big thanks to timroff for the beautiful logo)
About "I Got the News Today" (IGTNT)
I Got the News Today is a diary series intended to honor, respect and remind.; its title is a reminder that almost every day a military family gets the terrible news about a loved one. Diaries about the fallen usually appear two days after their names are officially released, which allows time for the IGTNT team to find and tell their stories.
Click here to see the series, which was begun by i dunno, and which is maintained by Sandy on Signal, monkeybiz, noweasels, greenies, blue jersey mom, chacounne, twilight falling, joyful, roses, SisTwo, SpamNunn, JeNoCo, mediaprof, rb137, and me, a girl in MI. These diaries are heartbreaking to write, but, we believe, an important service to those Americans who have died, and to our community’s respect for and remembrance of them.
If you are interested in volunteering for the series please contact me, a girl in MI, at a_girl_in_mi_101 AT yahoo DOT com
Please bear in mind that these diaries are read by friends and family of the service members chronicled here. We treat these diaries as a place to remember and reflect. May all of our remembrances be full of compassion rather than politics.