The Ways To Honor
Our Fallen Heroes
By Todd Sedlak

The Memorial Day address in Tunbridge Monday came from one of the town’s newest residents, Staff Sgt. Todd Sedlak, who arrived in November with his wife Nicole and son Rowan, 7. Sedlak spent eight and a half years of active duty with the Army, including a tour in Iraq from January 2005 to January 2006. Having grown up in Detroit, Sedlak came to central Vermont to work for Applied Research in Randolph and immediately joined the Tunbridge Fire Department, welcoming the opportunity to "be part of a community for the first time in my adult life," he said.

The Herald is pleased to present Sgt. Sedlak’s remarkable address in full—Ed.

Memorial Day means a lot of things to a lot of people. Picnics, barbecues, traffic jams, and the beginning of summer. Swimming pools are open, schools will soon be closed. We get to spend time with our families; we get to wear white shoes ‘til Labor Day. We get a three-day weekend.

Some will tell you that the meaning of this day has been lost, that hotdogs and water balloons do nothing to honor our fallen heroes, but I disagree. We celebrate their sacrifice—what’s more, we honor it—with our free spirited endeavors. Our children’s laughter is their legacy, our joined community their epitaph. For only in a nation whose freedom was purchased with the blood of its willing citizens do such events occur without shame or fear.

That being said, I still urge you to take a moment from your day and remember our fallen soldiers, past and especially present. We are a nation at war, and political leanings aside, there are few among us untouched by its ferocity. Maybe you are the proud parent of a child who enlisted, or you have a cousin who served, a classmate, a coworker, a sister, an uncle, or you know someone who does. Maybe you just watch the news every night and feel a small tug on your heart when you hear the words, "American casualty".

Whatever your connection, you have one, so take an extra moment today and focus your thoughts on those who will be forever unable to join us, and honor their sacrifice. I’ll now take a moment to remember those closest to me, the men I served with who lost their lives while serving their nation:

• Sgt. Jacob Palmatier, who was killed on February 24, 2005 by an IED while on a convoy to get our mail. Jake always placed the mission first, and that day was no different, the mail arrived on time.

• Sgt. David Rice, who was mortally injured on April 25 when his HMMWV rolled over. I held his hand until he was too tired to hang on, while he told me everything would be OK.

• SFC Brandon Sneed and SGT Leon Johnson who were both killed on October 10^th when an IED detonated under their Bradley turret. Personal friends of mine, they left behind six children between them.

• SSG Matthew Kimmell, who was killed the next day when his HMMVW burned to the ground. We believed he’d been captured, and were grateful to find him.

Looking Back

But today isn’t only about current soldiers, it is also, and maybe more so, about all those who have come before us. Sixty years ago, to have served was a common task taken on by uncommon men. No family was untouched, no country was more proud. Three years later, in Korea, many of the same men fought on in a little known land and have oft been forgotten.

Forty years ago there was a different war. No longer was the nation proud, but rather rebellious, ashamed, and angry. They took out their anger on the soldiers who beat the odds and somehow managed to find their way home; a home that greeted them with words like, "baby killer" and "murderer." Today the political climate is similar, but only that. Our citizens have learned that soldiers don’t choose their wars, and don’t fight for politics but, rather, for an ideal bigger than all of us, and for each other. It was a hard lesson taught by men who bore the brunt of misdirected fury from a bitter nation, our Vietnam veterans.

Gentleman, you have my gratitude. It is because of you that instead of angry words I get heartfelt thanks, instead of closed doors I get open arms, instead of disdain I get admiration. Because of you the only spit on this uniform was used to polish my shoes. For the war you fought there, and for the one you faced at home, I thank you.

In "The Soldier," a poem by George Skypeck, the writer talks about being what others do not want to be, going where others fear to go, and doing what others fail to do. He talks about terror, fear, and pain—but also hope, love and pride.

He says a soldier lives in times others say were best forgotten, but I don’t think that’s true. These are times that are best remembered, and remembered well. So remember the men and women who gave their lives because they believed in freedom. Because they supported not a government, but a country. Because they kept a promise:

To always place the mission first.

To never accept defeat.

To never quit.

To never leave a fallen comrade.

This is the American soldier.

Never forget.