Remembering the Fallen: Democrats join to memorialize fallen American Soldiers 


GCSUnade.com 
Issue date: 4/1/05 Section: Campus  News
By Vanessa Voigt

The current display of 1,521 yellow ribbons located on front campus served as part of a memorial service to represent and honor American soldiers who have died in Iraq and Afghanistan. 

The community service ceremony took place on front campus March 20 and was sponsored by Progressive Democrats of Middle Georgia and the Young Democrats of Georgia College & State University.

Gail W. McDonald, the founder of Progressive Democrats of Middle Georgia, said the goal of the service was to remind people that the war is ongoing. There is currently no set date for the removal of the display.

"My main goal for this whole ceremony was to get the soldiers and the war back on people's minds. It has been two years and a lot of people forget if they don't hear about it every day," said McDonald.

Before the service, the public had the opportunity to donate DVDs and books to be sent to troops in Afghanistan and Iraq.

"There was one [ribbon] for every fallen soldier as of March 20, 2005. The number has increased since then," McDonald said.

English Professor Dr. Jane Rose was the emcee of the service and began the ceremony with a speech.

"Tonight we stand here together, wanting to pay respects to these lives that have been sacrificed for their country," Rose said.

Rose said people have different ways of expressing their respect to fallen soldiers, but the important thing is that respect is paid.

"Some of us feel that respect is best paid by supporting the war they died in. Some of us feel that respect is best paid by seeking to end the war so that no more lives are lost," Rose said. "But all of us grieve the loss of these individuals whose lives were ended far too soon."

There were six speakers, including Reverend Bill Morgan, retired minister of First Presbyterian Church and adjunct professor of ethics at GC&SU, who spoke about all 34 Georgians who have died in the conflict. Before reading the names of each of those who have died, Morgan offered words of prayer.

"Remind us, whose talk of war is easy, and whose patriotism is cheap, of those whose lives now encompass an abyss that never will be filled-a dark abyss that swallowed childhood dreams, and parents' hopes, and lover's plans, and left a child yearning for a father's touch or a mother's soothing love," said Morgan. 

McDonald said Morgan's speech and recital of the soldiers' names was very moving for the crowd.

"The ceremony ended with a reading of the names of the fallen soldiers from Georgia by candlelight and the playing of taps," McDonald said. "Several people were moved to tears."

There were also two musical guests, including Douglas Keith, assistant professor of Music Therapy at GC&SU, who sang the National Anthem.

Keith said he was pleased to be involved in the ceremony.

"I wished to honor the memories of those who have been killed in the war in Iraq. I would wish to do that regardless of my position on the war," Keith said. "I was honored to lend my voice to this event for this reason alone."

Keith said the service reminded those in attendance of the high cost of war.

"I believe that services like this help us stay aware of the human costs of war. I think too little attention is paid to these costs when politicians make the decision to go to war," Keith said. "It doesn't help that almost none of the members of Congress have children in any branch of the military."

Keith said he was also happy to partake in this ceremony was because he wanted to show his support for the soldiers, despite his opposition to the president.

"I am tired of Republicans and conservatives associating 'support our troops' with 'support our president.' The two are entirely separate," Keith said, "I believe in supporting our troops. They should be paid better, they should be armored as best as they can be and we should support them in any way possible."

McDonald said she was happy to see that the 60-75 people in attendance did not allow their personal differences to get in the way of showing unified respect.

"One of the most significant parts of the ceremony for me was to see people of different faith, race and political party join together to honor our servicemen," said McDonald. "I hope we made a small impact on honoring our men and women in uniform," McDonald said. "If we did, then we were successful."

Progressive Democrats of Middle Georgia is still collecting books, videos, DVDs and phone cards to send to the troops. To make a donation, contact McDonald at 706-484-025 or gailwmcdonald@bellsouth.net.