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Memorial unveiled to honor local soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice in the Middle East

LA PORTE – The Indiana National Guard A Company 113th Engineer Battalion presented the colors to kick off the Memorial Dedication Ceremony held Saturday at Soldiers Memorial Park.

The monument was dedicated to the seven soldiers from La Porte who have died in the Middle East: Sgt. David Heath, Cpl. Nathaniel Baughman, Spc. Jason Beadles, Sgt. Kraig D. Foyteck, Cpl. Brian Schoff, Cpl. Sascha Struble, and Pfc. Kelly Youngblood.

La Porte Mayor Leigh Morris led all in attendance in singing the national anthem and Michigan City Mayor Chuck Oberlie led everyone in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.

“Our lives are what they are because of their sacrifice,” Oberlie said of the seven soldiers who were being remembered.

Specialist Matt Hampton took the podium after the monument was unveiled by Chris Womack and Annette Hampton. He began by saying he was honored to place this monument in the park with the other monuments.

“The citizens of La Porte should be proud.” Hampton said, before describing the emotions he was feeling. Besides grief, Hampton said, he felt guilty for returning home.

“In my heart as a person and fellow soldier I know I’d take their place if I could.”

Hampton quoted his wife’s favorite movie, “Blackhawk Down,” in which a character says, “Why are you going to fight someone else’s war? You think you’re heroes or something?”

Hampton answered, “No one asks to be a hero; it just works out that way. As no soldier shall be left behind, so no veteran should be forgotten.”

Colonel Bret Owens spoke, reminding everyone that “freedom isn’t free.” Owens told the families that their children did not die in vain.

Owens and his soldiers will be returning to Iraq late this year or in early 2008. “I will train them until they hate my guts so I can bring them back,” he stated.

Owens closed by saying, “Freedom isn’t free. It comes from hard work, dedication, sacrifice of these military soldiers, from their blood, sweat, and tears.”

Hodge Patel, representing U.S. Rep. Joe Donnelly, D-Granger, told everyone, “These soldiers did not die in vain. They died for all the young, and all that are gathered here.”

Patel quoted Douglas MacArthur: “ ‘The soldier above all other people prays for peace, for he must bear the deepest wounds and scars of war.’ This monument shows that.”

The families of the seven soldiers were presented with the La Porte County service medals, followed by the candle service by John Hewitt, representative of Mothers of Military Soldiers (MOMS). Seven candles were lighted to represent each soldier, then passed to a Boy Scout, who placed it in front of the monument.

The ceremony came to an end with a 21-gun salute and the playing of “Taps.”