Photo By Capt. Kara Siepmann | Sgt. 1st Class Isaac Lawson of the 49th Military Police Brigade's photo is pinned to...... read more read more
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By Sgt. Kara Greene
69th Public Affairs Detachment
SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Beyond the yellow ribbons, bumper stickers and lapel pins, Sgt. 1st Class Melissa Matthews wanted a way to actively honor the California National Guardsmen who have lost their lives in Iraq that hasn't been done by the hundreds already.
As she thought about this further, she remembered an article about a Tennessee National Guard Soldier who conducted a road march in honor of the fallen Soldiers from his state, and instantly knew this was the way she would honor California's fallen.
More than 40 other California Army National Guard Soldiers followed in her footsteps, literally, for a five-mile road march at Mather Air Field, to honor the fallen Soldiers, Aug. 25.
"I was amazed by all the support, emails and news coverage we received," said Matthews. "It showed that there is still a lot of support for our troops."
Before the sun came up, the Soldiers began gathering. Some attached photos of their fallen comrades to their field packs. Others had listed names on the poster board on their 30-pound packs.
At 6 a.m., the Soldiers began walking down the street on a beaten running path used by Soldiers and civilians alike. A few American flags flew in the morning breeze from the Soldier's backs. It was a sight not normally seen on this busy Rancho Cordova street.
The march honored not only National Guard personnel, but recognized active duty Soldiers who called California home.
Off and on, one Soldier led the others in a cadence.
"Although we were all marching for different fallen friends, the cadence brought us together and made us into one team with one goal- to honor these Soldiers," said Staff Sgt. Melissa Simpson of the 49th Military Police Brigade..
Less than two hours later, the road march ended. The Soldiers dropped their rucksacks from their backs and drank water.
"The road march is over for us," said Simpson. "We'll go back to work but the hope is that we'll never forget the memory of our fallen comrades."
"I knew this was right up my alley," said Matthews, the Joint Force Headquarters readiness and operations non-commissioned officer of planning the road march. "I started by sending out an email asking for participants."
Simpson marched for Sgt. 1st Class Isaac Lawson who deployed with the 49th MP Brigade. Last September, she returned from Iraq without her comrade.
"He would have been the first one to volunteer for this event," said Simpson. "That's just the type of Soldier he was. Dedicated and respected among his peers and subordinates."
The JFHQ headquarters and headquarters detachment plans events frequently for the community, Matthews said. But this was the first event she spearheaded to honor Soldiers as an individual.
Her husband and nephew are in the California National Guard as well. Between the three of them, they've deployed to Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Kuwait, and Iraq.
Matthews has twice acted as a casualty assistance officer. And she has since been able to identify with families whose loved ones have made the ultimate sacrifice.
"These families become your families," Matthews explained. "Once the funeral is over and the tragedy isn't on the news anymore people go back to their comfort zone, but the family is changed forever."
The last few words of the Noncommissioned Officer's Creed guide Matthews, "I will not forget, nor will I allow my comrades to forget that we are professionals," she said.
As a professional Soldier, Matthews interprets this duty to mean also never forgetting the great sacrifice some Soldiers make as part of their job.
| Date Taken: | 08.24.2007 |
| Date Posted: | 09.07.2007 11:57 |
| Story ID: | 12234 |
| Location: | SACRAMENTO, US |
| Web Views: | 565 |
| Downloads: | 424 |
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