Legislators honor Utah's own fallen
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No Comments [ Add Comment ]By Loretta Park
Standard-Examiner Davis Bureau
S
ALT LAKE CITY -- The two women stood proudly with their families and others who have shared their fate.
As legislators honored 11 fallen members of the military with a moment of silence, the two women bowed their heads, remembering the times when they read bed-time stories, put Band-Aids on skinned knees and prayed their sons would be safe.
But the sons of Fay Dolan of Roy and Paula Lehmiller of Clearfield paid the ultimate price while serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Rep. Kerry Gibson, R-West Weber, read the names of each of the 11 with Utah ties and presented the families with a joint resolution from the Senate and the House.
"We're a unique group," Lehmiller said. "We share something we'd rather not have had to, but we're family now."
The Legislature bestowed a similar honor on her son last session. He died Aug. 21, 2005, in Afghanistan. She came Tuesday to honor those who have followed her son.
Lehmiller said she's been working with legislators for the past year to get a license plate for families like hers to honor their loved ones.
Rep. Merlynn Newbold, R-South Jordan, introduced Senate Bill 33, sponsored by Sen. Carlene Walker, R-Salt Lake, which allows families of fallen service men and women to get license plates bearing a gold star.
The bill was approved unanimously by the House while the families were on the floor. It now goes to the governor for a signature.
"This is not a fundraiser, this is a tribute," Newbold said.
Newbold said she went for a walk last summer and saw a house with a blue star in the window.
She learned it was a tradition of military families to put a blue star in a window for each family member serving in the military. If a military family member dies, the blue star is replaced with a gold star.
A few weeks later she visited Washington, D.C. and was moved by the new World War II memorial.
"We don't need to wait 50 years or collect millions of dollars to honor these families," Newbold said.
After the ceremony, families met to talk about their loved ones.
Army Pfc. Daniel Dolan, died Aug. 27, 2006. He was 19.
His 17-year-old sister, Michelle, was asked what her brother would have thought about the recognition. "He would have thought this was pretty cool. I think he's up there smiling."
She, her mother and her father, Tim Dolan proudly wore pins with a gold star.
"It's been a honor and privilege to be here," Fay Dolan said.
IN MEMORY OF
Names of those service men and women honored during Tuesday's legislative session:
Army Staff Sgt. Gregson Glenn Gourley, 38
Died Feb. 22, 2006, Hawijah, Iraq
Army Specialist Ty John Johnson, 28
Died April 4, 2006, in Kirkuk, Iraq
Navy Airman Jason Doyle, 19
Died July 10, 2006, in Yokosuka Naval Base, Japan.
Marine Cpl. Adam Galvez, 21
Died Aug. 20, 2006, in Al Anbar, Iraq
Army Pfc. Daniel Dolan, 19
Died Aug. 27, 2006, in Baghdad, Iraq
Navy Seaman Charles Sare, 23
Died Oct. 23, 2006 in Sadah, Iraq
Army 2nd Lt. Scott Lundell, 35
Died Nov. 25, 2006, Oruzgan Province, Afghanistan
Air Tech. Sgt. Timothy Weiner, 35
Died Jan. 7 in Al Mahmudiyah, Iraq
Air Force Senior Airman Elizabeth Loncki, 23
Died Jan. 7 in Al Mahmudiyah, Iraq
Air Force Senior Airman Daniel B. Miller, Jr., 24
Died Jan. 7 in Al Mahmudiyah, Iraq
Army Reserve Capt. Brian Freeman, 31
Died Jan. 20 in Karbala Iraq.
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