A Memorial Day tribute

We thought we’d pay homage on Memorial Day to soldiers from Route 66 towns who have died in Iraq and Afghanistan. I first started this tribute on Veterans Day 2006. Since then, about another 30 soldiers have been added.

Route 66 is often described as the “world’s longest small town.” So when one of its own dies, those who feel an affinity to the Mother Road feel the loss more. One of the latest Mother Road communities to feel this loss is Winslow, Ariz., when Sgt. Christopher Gonzalez died after an attack in Iraq.

I can attest that small towns are more appreciative of their veterans and fallen soldiers. I grew up in a small town where Memorial Day was reverently observed at the local cemetery. There, the name each military veteran who had died was read, which took almost 20 minutes and staggered listeners with its enormity.

Since I am a resident of the Route 66 community, here is my attempt at a tribute to fallen Americans who hailed from the Mother Road.

ILLINOIS
Chicago

• Staff Sgt. Oscar D. Vargas-Medina, died May 1, 2004
• 1st Sgt. Edward Smith, died April 5, 2003
• Sgt. Ivory L. Phipps, died March 17, 2004
• Pfc. Torry D. Harris, died July 13, 2004
• Sgt. Sirlou C. Cuaresma, died June 21, 2006
• Cmdr. Adrian Basil Szwec, died April 12, 2004
• Machinist’s Mate Fireman Apprentice Bryant L. Davis, died Nov. 7, 2001
• Master Sgt. Wilberto Sabalu Jr., died May 6, 2007

Countryside

• Spc. John R. Sullivan, died Nov. 15, 2003

Cicero

• Sgt. Pedro J. Colon, died Feb. 19, 2007

Dwight

• Lance Cpl. Raymond J. Holzhauer, died March 15, 2007

Lincoln

• Staff Sgt. Daniel G. Gresham, died Feb. 24, 2005
• Spc. Francis M. Trussel Jr., died May 26, 2007

Normal

• Spc. Jessica L. Cawvey, died Oct. 6, 2004

Bloomington

• Capt. Ryan Anthony Beaupre, died March 21, 2003
• 1st Lt. Debra A. Banaszak, died Oct. 28, 2005

Springfield

• Spc. Jacob C. Palmatier, died Feb. 24, 2005

Virden

• Staff Sgt. Gary R. Harper Jr., died Oct. 9, 2005

Carlinville

• Spc. Jeremiah D. Costello, died June 2, 2007

Edwardsville

• Pfc. Ryan C. Garbs, died Feb. 18, 2007

Granite City

• Sgt. 1st Class Shawn Christopher Dostie, died Dec. 30, 2005
• Sgt. Steven P. Mennemeyer, died Aug. 9, 2006

MISSOURI
Florissant

• Pvt. Lavena L. Johnson, died July 19, 2005

St. Louis

• Maj. William F. Hecker III, died Jan. 5, 2006
• Sgt. Amanda N. Pinson, died March 16, 2006
• Pfc. James F. Costello III, died April 11, 2006
• Lance Cpl. Leon Lance Deraps, died May 6, 2006
• Petty Officer 2nd Class Christopher Walsh, died Sept. 4, 2006
• Cpl. Jacob R. Fleisher, died Nov. 24, 2004
• Spc. Christopher M. Katzenberger, died Aug. 9, 2005
• Maj. Gloria D. Davis, died Dec. 12, 2006
• Lance Cpl. Matthew W. Clark, died Dec. 14, 2006
• Sgt. Milton A. Gist Jr., died Jan. 30, 2007
• Sgt. Brandon L. Wallace, died April 14, 2007
• Lt. Daniel P. Riordan, died June 23, 2007

Wildwood

• Spc. Peter J. Navarro, died Dec. 13, 2005

Pacific

• Cpl. Riley E. Baker, died June 22, 2006

Bourbon

• Corp. James E. Summers III, died May 28, 2007

Lebanon

• Sgt. Lawrence Parrish, died Oct. 7, 2006

Marshfield

• Spc. Michael C. Campbell, died May 19, 2004

Springfield

• Pfc. Jesse Alan Givens, died May 1, 2003
• Sgt. Timothy J. Sutton, died July 11, 2005
• Sgt. 1st Class Randall L. Lamberson, died April 10, 2006

Carthage

• Master Sgt. Thomas A. Wallsmith, died Oct. 26, 2005

Joplin

• Sgt. Philip J. Svitak, died March 4, 2002

KANSAS
Riverton

• Pvt. Dustin L. Kreider, died March 21, 2004

OKLAHOMA
Miami

• Civilian Fern L. Holland, died March 9, 2004
• Tech. Sgt. Jason L. Norton, died Jan. 22, 2006

Vinita

• Sgt. Justin Noyes, died July 2, 2006

Claremore

• Staff Sgt. John G. Doles, died Sept. 30, 2005

Tulsa

• Pvt. Jason M. Ward, died Oct. 22, 2003
• Spc. James E. Marshall, died May 5, 2004
• Lance Cpl. Jordan D. Winkler, died Nov. 26, 2004
• Cpl. Nathaniel T. Hammond, died Nov. 8, 2004
• Cpl. Jared M. Shoemaker, died Sept. 4, 2006
• Cpl. Derek A. Stanley, died June 5, 2006

Edmond

• Pfc. David J. Martin, died Oct. 31, 2005

Oklahoma City

• Spc. Sonny Gene Sampler, died July 8, 2004
• Sgt. Carl W. Lee, died Nov. 28, 2004
• Cpl. Jeffry A. Rogers, died Nov. 16, 2005
• Staff Sgt. Lance M. Chase, died Jan. 23, 2006
• Chief Warrant Officer Lawrence S. Colton, died April 11, 2004
• Sgt. Danton K. Seitsinger, died Jan. 29, 2004
• Lance Cpl. Trevor A. Roberts, died March 24, 2007
• Sgt. Ryan M. Wood, died June 21, 2007
• Spc. Derek A. Calhoun, died June 23, 2007

TEXAS
Amarillo

• Capt. Eric Bruce Das, died April 7, 2003
• Chief Warrant Officer Johnny Villareal Mata, died March 23, 2003
• Spc. Taylor J. Burk, died Jan. 26, 2005
• Staff Sgt. Tommy Ike Folks Jr., died Oct. 19, 2005
• Chief Warrant Officer Miles P. Henderson, died Nov. 6, 2006
• Pfc. Troy D. Cooper, died Dec. 3, 2006

NEW MEXICO
Las Vegas

• Lance Cpl. Shane P. Harris, died Sept. 3, 2006

Santa Fe

• Lance Cpl. Jonathan Walter Grant, died May 11, 2005

Albuquerque

• Pfc. Christopher Ramos, died April 5, 2004
• Pfc. Christopher S. Adlesperger, died Dec. 9, 2004
• Spc. Jeremy E. Christensen, died Nov. 27, 2004
• Spc. Christopher A. Merville, died Oct. 12, 2004
• Sgt. 1st Class Christopher J. Speer, died Aug. 7, 2002
• Spc. Eric Vizcaino, died Nov. 21, 2006
• Tech Sgt. Scott E. Duffman, died Feb. 18, 2007
• Spc. Clifford A. Spohn III, died April 9, 2007
• Maj. Douglas Zembiec, died May 10, 2007
• Sgt. James C. Akin, died June 3, 2007

Los Lunas

• Sgt. Joel A. Dahl, died June 23, 2007

Belen

• 1st Lt. Tamara Long Archuleta, died March 23, 2003

ARIZONA
Holbrook

• Spc. Damien M. Montoya, died July 9, 2006

Winslow

• Sgt. Christopher N. Gonzalez, died May 14, 2007

Flagstaff

• Lance Cpl. Marty G. Mortenson, died April 20, 2005
• Spc. Alyssa R. Peterson, died Sept. 15, 2003

Kingman

• Hospitalman Joshua McIntosh, died June 26, 2003
• Staff Sgt. William T. Latham, died June 18, 2003
• Spc. Coty J. Phelps, died May 17, 2007

CALIFORNIA
Barstow

• Sgt. 1st Class James F. Hayes, died Nov. 6, 2005

Victorville

• Lance Cpl. William J. Wiscowiche, died March 30, 2004

San Bernardino

• Cpl. Sean R. Grilley, died Oct. 16, 2003
• Cpl. Nicanor Alvarez, died Aug. 21, 2004
• Spc. Timothy D. Watkins, died Oct. 15, 2005
• Pfc. Alex Oceguera, died Oct. 31, 2006

Rialto

• Staff Sgt. Jorge A. Molina Bautista, died May 23, 2004
• Spc. Luis D. Santos, died June 8, 2006
• Spc. Victor A. Garcia, died July 1, 2007

Azusa

• Pfc. Leroy Harris-Kelly, died April 20, 2004

Arcadia

• Sgt. Kyle A. Colnot, died April 22, 2006

Fontana

• Sgt. Bryan A. Brewster, died May 5, 2006
• Lance Corp. Fontana S. Tamayo, died Dec. 21, 2006

Glendora

• Spc. Elias Elias, died Dec. 23, 2006
• Lance Corp. Blake H. Howey, died Feb. 18, 2007
• Staff Sgt. Thomas M. McFall, died May 28, 2007

Monrovia

• Lance Cpl. Raul Mercado, died Jan. 7, 2006

Rancho Cucamonga

• Capt. Mark C. Paine, died Oct. 15, 2006
• Sgt. Lawrence J. Carter, died Dec. 29, 2006

Pomona

• Petty Officer 2nd Class Cesar O. Baez, died June 15, 2005
• Sgt. Shaker T. Guy, died Oct. 29, 2005
• Spc. Sergio Gudino, died Dec. 25, 2005

Pasadena

• Lance Cpl. Sergio H. Escobar, died Oct. 8, 2005
• Spc. Adam J. Rosema, died March 14, 2007

Los Angeles

• Staff Sgt. Juan de Dios Garcia-Arana, April 30, 2005
• Staff Sgt. Eddie E. Menyweather, died Nov. 23, 2003
• Lance Cpl. Benjamin R. Gonzalez, died May 29, 2004
• Staff Sgt. Abraham D. Penamedina, died April 27, 2004
• Sgt. 1st Class John Winston, Marshall, died April 8, 2003
• Pfc. Francisco Abraham Martinez-Flores, died March 27, 2003
• Cpl. Jorge Alonso Gonzalez, died March 23, 2003
• Lance Cpl. Victor R. Lu, died Nov. 13, 2004
• Sgt. Trinidad R. Martinezluis, died Nov. 28, 2004
• Lance Cpl. Luis A. Figueroa, died Nov. 18, 2004
• Spc. Omead H. Razani, died Aug. 27, 2004
• Sgt. Edgar E. Lopez, died Aug. 28, 2004
• Sgt. 1st Class Joselito O. Villanueva, Sept. 27, 2004
• Lance Cpl. Felipe D. Sandoval-Flores, died April 2, 2006
• Lance Cpl. Salvador Guerrero, died June 9, 2006
• Cpl. Roberto Abad, died Aug. 6, 2004
• Pfc. Geoffrey Perez, died Aug. 15, 2004
• Lance Cpl. Veashna Muy, died June 23, 2005
• Cpl. Carlos Pineda, died June 24, 2005
• Lance Cpl. Dion M. Whitley, died June 15, 2005
• Sgt. Milton M. Monzon Jr., died July 24, 2005
• Sgt. Alejandro Carrillo, died Jan. 30, 2007
• Spc. Christopher D. Young, died March 2, 2007
• Spc. Romel Catalan, died June 2, 2007
• Staff Sgt. Greg P. Gagarin, died June 3, 2007

(Sources: CNN.com, icasualties.org)