Honoring Fallen Heroes

On Wednesday, May 28, 2008, the Exchange Club of Richmond Hill was proud to dedicate bricks at the Richmond Hill Veterans Memorial for eleven members of the 3rd ID that have been killed in action in Operation Iraqi Freedom. The eleven soldiers recognized for their sacrifice are among the more than 4,000 members of the US military that have died protecting our freedom in Iraq and Afghanistan over the past 5 years. Two of the families of the fallen soldiers were able to attend the dedication. The family of PFC Nicholas E. Riehl came down from Wisconsin along with several friends and relatives, to help us with the dedication. Mrs. Conietha Zapfe and her three children came from Kentucky, and several friends and relatives were also present to help us dedicate the memorial bricks to SFC William A. Zapfe and the other members of the 3rd ID that were being recognized. Our keynote speaker was Bill Cathcart, General Manager of WTOC-TV. Mr. Cathcart gave a rousing presentation on the sacrifices of the these eleven soldiers, their families, and all the other members of our military that have sacrificed everything for our freedom over the past 230+ years. Mayor Richard Davis read a passage from the Gettysburg Address, which was following by the playing of Taps by a bugler from Fort Stewart. This was a very moving program, and hopefully the first annual recognition of fallen heroes.

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