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Grieving families of soldiers need our support

By GREG HAMILTON
Published January 26, 2006

By all accounts, Dennis Flanagan was a model student, soldier and son. Fiercely devoted to family, friends and country, those who knew him best have said. His community and country are diminished by the loss of this young man.

It is a heartbreaking scene that is being replayed every day across America, mostly in our nation's small towns, like Inverness and Lecanto. A rigged explosive erupts along a dusty road in Iraq, an insurgent's bullet finds its mark, and another American family loses a piece of its soul.

This is not a column decrying the war in Iraq. This is neither the time nor the place for such a debate, and it would be a gross disservice to the memory of Sgt. Flanagan to politicize his death in such a manner.

This is the simple salute to a man who realized at a younger age than most that there are obligations and responsibilities to citizenship, and who was willing to do his part.

America can never have enough young people such as this. And today, we are missing one more.

Sgt. Flanagan's entry into the military is like a Norman Rockwell painting come to life. He felt the horror and anguish that swept our land on Sept. 11, 2001, but rather than simply lament this assault on his country, he chose to put his life on the line in his nation's defense.

Setting aside his plans for a college education and a career as a history professor, he enlisted in the Army within a week of the terrorist attacks on New York and Washington. So strong was his feelings for America, and his affection for the armed forces, that his mother noted, "We would have been surprised if he hadn't joined."

Before long, Sgt. Flanagan was part of an infantry unit and found himself invading Iraq. He survived that ordeal and in September returned to that war-torn country for a second tour of duty.

His luck ran out last Friday.

Back home, senior Mychal Nichols of Lecanto High School was pouring in 42 points in a win over Crystal River, retirees played bingo at the West Citrus Community Center, and people around the county went about their day, while Sgt. Flanagan and his squad patrolled a no-name street in some place called Al Huwijah.

Their Humvee was no match for the powerful booby trap that is the weapon of choice for the cowards skulking around Iraq these days. In a deafening instant, Sgt. Flanagan was gone.

Killed with him were Staff Sgt. Ricky Scott, 30, of Columbus, Ga.; Spc. Clifton J. Yazzie, 23, of Fruitland, N.M.; and Spc. Matthew C. Frantz, 23, of Lafayette, Ind.

No doubt, these shadow assailants are proud of their work: They succeeded in creating four more grieving American families. I imagine their own families are pleased.

The temptation is to rail against the people in our own country who set in motion the events that led to Sgt. Flanagan's death, to question once more why in the world are our children dying to protect people who do not want us in their country.

Sgt. Flanagan signed up to fight those who attacked us on Sept. 11, and he died in a country that his own commander in chief has admitted had nothing to do with that horror.

Across America, as the death toll mounts, more and more people are asking the important questions and demanding answers. Mostly, they simply want their loved ones to come home.

With two young men near and dear to my heart serving in the military today, one of whom is in a war zone, I echo those wishes. Sgt. Flanagan's parents may feel those emotions more than most: Both of their daughters and their husbands are in the military as well.

Throughout the land, families like the Flanagans are meeting the obligations and sacrifices of citizenship during these troubled times. It is our duty as Americans to support them at their moment of greatest need.

[Last modified January 26, 2006, 01:01:17]