Wednesday Hero

Welcome to this week's installment where all the member bloggers of "Wednesdays Hero", found in my sidebar and theirs collectively honor many of the real hero's found in this country who's names and bio's have been provided to us for these humble tributes by blogroll creators Indian Chris @ Right Wing and Right Minded along with partner HooahWife

With the anti military democrats in complete unfettered power these true American heroes need our complete support more now than they ever have with two wars still being executed and Commander in Chief who's never run a hot dog stand much less a top notch deadly fighting machine like our vaunted and gallant military..

Many of our soldiers are those that have paid the ultimate price for this country, protecting it both at home and abroad from the many threats we face from our enemies wishing us and them harm, and some are not. In either case they are the real American heroes of today and we now honor both the fallen and the enlisted with this feature week after week and thanks for reading and supporting these fine men and women.

This Weeks Post Was Suggested By Elena

Today we saluteCpl. Aaron L. Seal
23 years old from Elkhart, Indiana
6th Engineer Support Battalion, 4th Marine Logistics Group,
Marine Forces Reserve
October 1, 2006

With sleet gushing from gunmetal gray clouds, some 30 Marines standing in three trim lines saluted the U.S. flag that four of their brethren used to christen a new pole.

A large engraved stone set at the base of the 38-foot pole explained the occasion: "In memory of Corporal Aaron L. Seal. Who gave his life for our country. 1982-2006."

The Marines from Engineer Company B joined several dozen community residents and well-wishers at a ceremony Wednesday honoring Seal, the 23-year-old Elkhart reservist who died last fall in Iraq.

Seal's family also attended the 20-minute tribute at Elkhart Community Schools' administration building adjacent to Memorial High School -- the fallen Marine's alma mater.

"How do you thank a community that gives so much?" Seal's father, David Dunn, said. "I just pray that we get a little stronger every day and the next day is a little better than the last."

One of Seal's childhood friends and her mother organized the observance. Several local companies donated the memorial marker, the flag pole and the statue of a golden eagle perched atop it.

The commanding officer of Seal's South Bend-based unit said the ceremony befit the young man.

"He was a great man," said Maj. Mark Boone. "He touched everyone who he made contact with."

Immediately after Seal's death, Boone said, the unit took time to remember him but kept the purpose of its mission in mind.

"We had a job to continue," he said. "I speak for the whole company when I say we're thankful to be here with you today."

The more than 100 members of Engineer Company B returned in March from a seven-month assignment to clear routes and rebuild structures in Iraq.

The unit was about a month into its deployment when Seal died in a sniper attack Oct. 1 in Baghdad.

Military officials awarded him the Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, Armed Forces Reserve medal and other honors.

Seal worked at Dutch Housing in LaGrange and was a 2001 graduate of Memorial High School.

The school district's superintendent, Mark Mow, said the flagpole dedicated to Seal should remind the community of Seal's -- and other military members' -- service and sacrifice.

It is also close to home for Seal's parents. The pole juts into the sky about a quarter-mile east of their house along C

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.

We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

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