The war in Iraq is taking a toll on communities.
As a journalist I have covered two funerals for fallen soldiers in the past two years, a rather low number compared to some areas but still two to many.
The first was for Spc. Jared Douglas, “Jed” Hartley of Newkirk, Okla.
Hartley was killed on July 15, 2005 by roadside bomb, while serving as a turret funner aboard a Humvee in Baghdad.
Not only did family, friends and the community show up to honorHartley, but a group of protestors from Topeka, Kan. showed up as well.
This was my second experience seeing the protestors and much like the first, it was unbelievable. I will never understand how anyone can be pleased about the death of an young man who was fighting to protect the freedom that everyone, including the protestors enjoy everyday.
One resident asked police to move the protestors off of her property. She then proudly displayed eight American Flags on her lawn.
She called the actions of the protestors, “A disregard for human sacrifice.”
Despite the group of nuisances which included young children, Hartley was honored with dignity. The funeral procession detoured pass the Newkirk High School. At the cemetery military honor rites were performed and his parents, Doug and Kathie were presented the American flag. The experience was one I will never forget witnessing and it brought the reality of war home to a small community.
Today, many display a logo in memory of Hartley on their vehicles and Kay County aded a section to the county war memorial to honor Hartley and others killed in Iraq.
A stretch of highway i also named after Hartley.
Nearly two years to the day, I found myself at another military funeral.
This one honored U.S. Marine Cpl. Jeremy D. Allbaugh.
Allbuagh, the nephew of Joe Allbaugh, former director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, was killed on July 5, 2007 in the Al Anbar province of Iraq by a roadside bomb.
He is buried in Blackwell, Oklahoma near his grandfather.
This time the Kansas protestors did not show up but The Patriot Guard Riders did.
At least 40 of these non-confrontational riders from five states showed up to honor Allbaugh.
Soon a bagpiper was playing Taps and it was time to once again witness tears caused by war.
Allbaugh’s brother, Lt. Jason Allbaugh, paid tribute to his brother and shared stories from their childhood. He told the crowd that Jeremy asked him to remember him if something should happen. At the end of the tribute the Patriot Guard Riders escorted the funeral procession to the cemetery where once again another family was presented a flag while choking back tears.
AS of Sept. 5, 2007, 4,144 members of the U.S. armed forces have been killed in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom conflicts. That translates into over 8,000 parents that have said goodbye to their children.
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