So as not to mislead our readers, this is neither an editorial nor a satire about a sports team.  In fact, there is nothing entertaining or frivolous about this article.  I wrote it to honor American soldiers who gave their lives for us overseas in the year 2009.  And, while this list is certainly not comprehensive, it is a start, and you may feel free to add the names of other soldiers in the comments below the article, or email them to us and we will add them to the article.

Although their names appear at the end of this piece, those of us who did not claim them as kith or kin are left wondering who each one of them were in life.  Most of all, we ponder the enormous sense of responsibility that prompted them to take on such a dangerous mission and ultimately, protect our freedoms with their blood.  Given their occupation, how much life insurance coverage were these fallen soldiers entitled to?  Whatever it was, it could never be enough.  And finally, how can we ever repay these oh so brave men for their pain and suffering, or their families?  We must not negate the pain of the loved ones left behind, clinging to nothing more than photos, letters, and neatly folded American flags for some small measure of comfort.  Since we cannot place a price upon a human life, the answer to my final and most poignant question is, “With patriotism.”

Webster’s Dictionary classifies a patriot as an individual who willingly loves and zealously protects his country at all costs. By this definition, how many of our political leaders or captains of industry can deem themselves patriots? As a new year kicks off to a start, it’s time that we count our blessings and put patriotism into practice on a daily basis, doing what’s good for our country and not what’s good for business.  When this comes to pass, then and only then can we offer our sincere thanks to the true patriots, both past and present.

Now that the soldiers listed below are no longer among the nameless that took the risks and paid the highest price, we can proudly salute them.   In memory of:

Staff Sergeant Roberto Andrade Jr., 26, of Chicago, Illinois, who died for his country on January 18^th in Baghdad, Iraq,

Staff Sergeant Justin L. Bauer, 24, of Loveland, Colorado, who died on January 8^th in Baghdad,

Lance Corporal Daniel R. Bennett, 23, of Clifton, Virginia, who left this Earth on January. 11^th as a result of a non-hostile incident in Helmand Province, Afghanistan,

Staff Sergeant Anthony D. Davis, 29, of Daytona Beach, Florida, who died on January 6^th in Northern Iraq,

Sergeant Ezra Dawson, 31, of Las Vegas, Nevada, who died January 17^th in Konar Province, Afghanistan,

Corporal Keith E. Essary, 20, of Dyersburg, Tennessee, who died on January 8^th in Maywand, Afghanistan,

Lance Corporal Alberto Francesconi, 21 of The Bronx, New York, who died on January 1^st in Helmand Province, Afghanistan,

Specialist Joseph M. Hernandez, 24, of Hammond, Indiana, who died on January 9^th in the Zabul Province of Afghanistan,

Private Sean P. McCune, 20, of Euless, Texas, who died on January 11^th in Samarra, Iraq,

Senior Airman Omar J. McKnight, 22, of Marrero, Louisiana, who expired on January 17^th as a result of a non-hostile incident in Balad, Iraq,

Major Brian M. Mescall, 33, of Hopkinton, Massachusetts, who saw battle for the last time on January 9^th in the Zabul Province of Afghanistan,

Sergeant Jason R. Parsons, 24, of Lenoir, North Carolina, who was killed on January 9^th in the Zabul Province of Afghanistan,

Specialist Matthew M. Pollini, 21, of Rockland, Massachusetts, who died on January 22^nd at Forward Operating Base Delta, near al-Kut, Iraq,

Sergeant Marquis R. Porter, 28, of Brighton, Massachusetts, who died on January 11^th as a result of a non-hostile incident in Anbar Province, Iraq,

Sergeant Joshua L. Rath, 22, of Decatur, Alabama, who left us on January 8^th in Maywand, Afghanistan,

Staff Sergeant Carlo M. Robinson, 33, of Lawton, Oklahoma, who was killed on January 17^th in Bagram, Afghanistan,

Staff Sergeant Joshua R. Townsend, 30, of Solvang, California, who fought his last battle on January 16^th in Tarin Kowt, Afghanistan,

Private First Class Benjamin B. Tollefson, 22, of Concord, California, who died on December 31^st in Balad, Iraq, and.

Private First Class, Ricky L. Turner, 20, of Athens, Alabama, whose soul passed over on January 16^th in Baghdad, Iraq.