JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. - –
"Some say that freedom is free. Well, I tend to disagree."
During the early morning hours of July 25, the sound of this cadence could be heard echoed across Fort Eustis.
U.S. Army Soldiers from the 359th Inland Cargo Transfer Company, 10th Transportation Battalion, 7th Transportation Brigade (Expeditionary) ran a memorial 5K in honor of three comrades who were killed-in-action while deployed to Afghanistan in 2013.
Staff Sgt. Justin Johnson of Hobe Sound, Florida, was killed after being struck by a mortar attack while at the entry control point of Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan. Just five weeks later, Staff Sgt. Eric Lawson of Stockbridge, Georgia, and Sgt. Caryn Nouv of York County, Virginia, were killed when enemy forces attacked their vehicle with an improvised explosive device and small arms fire.
"It is important to remember our fallen Soldiers because they gave everything for us," said 1st Sgt. Paul Ellis, 359th ICTC, 10th Transportation Battalion, 7th Transportation Brigade (Expeditionary) first sergeant. "They made the ultimate sacrifice for this nation and for this Army, and it's important that we thank them in our own way."
Tears fell at each mile marker during the 5K run as Soldiers stopped to read information for each fallen comrade and read from the poem, "Do Not Stand at My Grave and Weep," by Mary Elizabeth Frye.
"Nouv had this contagious laugh that would just light up the room," said Sgt. Melissa Raposo, 2nd Platoon, 359th ICTC, 10th Transportation Battalion, 7th Transportation Brigade (Expeditionary) squad leader, with tears in her eyes. "She was a great noncommissioned officer who knew her job well and would stop just about anything she was doing to help someone out."
Sergeant Matthew McCall, 359th ICTC, 10th Transportation Battalion, 7th Transportation Brigade (Expeditionary) assistant noncommissioned officer in charge, has fond memories of Staff Sgt. Lawson from their deployment.
"He was like no other. He was a great friend," said McCall. "We learned so much about each other that he turned into somewhat of a father-figure to me."
Soldiers from the 359th ICTC plan to create a memorial board at the unit in honor of their comrades' sacrifices.
"We have a board for all of the 359th Soldiers who were killed-in-action during the Vietnam War," said Ellis. "We want to make a new board to include our most recent fallen comrades so we can always remember them [and what they've done for our country]."
Frye's poem, which was read at each mile marker during the run, will be included on the board:
Do not stand at my grave and weep.
I am not there, I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow
I am the diamond glints on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning's hush,
I am the swift uplifting rush of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry.
I am not there, I did not die.