Ten more trees dedicated to honor 3rd ID soldiers killed in Iraq

[babylonsister]

Ten more trees dedicated to honor 3rd ID soldiers killed in Iraq
1A | Bryan / Liberty | Intown
Larry Peterson | Friday, September 21, 2007


Fellow army wife Amber Jordan, left, comforts her friend Tabitha Lancaster whose late husband Sgt. Andrew W. Lancaster was one of ten fallen soldiers remebered at a tree dedication ceremony at Fort Stewart's Warriors Walk. (Photo: John Carrington)

Army Spc. Charles Bilbrey Jr. read voraciously and, as a child, he memorized the names of presidents and astronauts.

Sgt. Andrew Lancaster played golf with his grandfather and loved fishing and his dog, Sam.

Sgt. Scott Kirkpatrick was an actor and a poet.

The three were among 10 soldiers in the 3rd Infantry Division who were killed recently in Iraq.

Under dark, drizzly skies, all 10 were honored Thursday at Fort Stewart with the dedication of freshly planted Eastern Redbud trees.

Families of the fallen soldiers and other troops watched as what has become a regular ritual unfolded. It began with a somber procession of family members, some of them carrying small children, down Fort Stewart's Warriors Walk.

On leave from Iraq, Maj. Gen. Rick Lynch, commander of the 3rd ID, called the trees "living monuments to our fallen heroes."

Lynch shared anecdotes about each soldier, noting that each was a "soldier and a son" and that some were husbands and fathers.


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http://www.savannahnow.com/node/363074

[Solly Mack]

1. Just saw this on the AFN

[skorpo]

2. Was At Warriors Walk last Month

Last Month I was at Fort Stewart's Warriors Walk.
There were over 350 trees then. The trees and the upkeep are donated by a businessman in the area.
It is a peaceful and meaningful memorial.
BUT--All who visited with our group were overcome with great sorrow at the loss of so many young people.

[babylonsister]

3. You're right. It's a lovely memorial, but so sad there even has to be one. And

the local nursery is doing a booming business.

[aikoaiko]

4. That picture hit me hard this morning as I read the Savannah paper.

How I wish we weren't in Iraq.