South Carolina National Guard Dedicates Memorial to Fallen Heroes
12.02.12Story by Staff Sgt. Tracci Dorgan, Photos by Sgt. Brad Mincey, 108th Public Affairs Detachment
COLUMBIA, S.C.— The South Carolina Army National Guard honored their fallen heroes during a dedication ceremony for their Fallen Heroes Memorial held in the Adjutant Generals building, Dec. 2.
The ceremony was a celebration of the lives of the fallen and their great sacrifice for state and country. The families of the fallen were present for the dedication and their sacrifice was also recognized.
The program began with a meaningful rendition of the Star-Spangled Banner, sung by the Adjutant General, Maj. Gen. Robert E. Livingston’s daughters: Rachel Popkowski, Rebekah Morris and Roxanne Livingston. They were followed by an invocation from the Chaplain (Col.) Steven Shugart who asked God to “Love us as only you can.”
Command Sgt. Maj. Robert Brickley then took his place behind the podium and read each of the 16 fallen heroes names. As each name was read, the Soldier’s family was presented with a single yellow rose and Shugart lit a candle in the front of the auditorium. Once all names were read, Brickley lead everyone in a reading of “The Fallen Soldier” poem by Patricia Krull.
The poem states, “Don’t weep for me O’ land of the free. When it was my time to fall, ‘twas for my country’s call, ‘twas for the land that I loved, that I gave my all. And for the land that I loved, I did freely give. And in her freedom and courage, I’ll continue to live.”
“We’re all affected when we lose a Soldier,” said Barbara Livingston, wife of Maj. Gen Livingston. “We want to honor each of you and your Soldier. Thank you for your payment to our freedom.”
“We live in a blessed time and in a blessed country because of people willing to stand up for their country,” said Maj. Gen. Livingston. “Your loved one has made the world a safer place for us and we are eternally grateful. These Soldiers are part of a bigger picture against evil in the world and we will never forget their sacrifice.”
At the conclusion of the ceremony, a wreath was placed at the bottom of the memorial and everyone gathered around it. Shugart asked everyone to hold hands and gave the benediction.
Families were invited to walk around the memorial and many shared stories of their fallen hero. “I think a parents greatest fear is that our children will be forgotten. We will live with their memory for the rest of our lives, but knowing that the Guard has created this memorial so everyone can remember our son is very nice,” said Diane Rawl, mother of 1st Lt. Ryan Rawl who was killed in Khowst, Afghanistan, June 20, 2012. “The members of the Guard have taken us under their wing; we are family. And they didn’t forget.”
Don and Emily Shields, parents of 1st Lt. Andrew Shields who was killed in Mosul, Iraq, Dec. 9, 2004, said, “This is a very important memorial. It allows others to see the names of those who died, and is shows that somebody cared to remember.”
