Fallen Warriors Honored at Fort Lee Ceremony

By Amy Perry , U.S. Army Garrison, Fort Lee Public Affairs OfficeAugust 4, 2011

Fallen Warriors Honored at Fort Lee Ceremony
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FORT LEE, Va. (August 4, 2011) " During an emotional Fallen Hero Ceremony here July 28, the U.S. Army Transportation Corps paid tribute to the members of its ranks who died over the past year. The observance was part of the 69th Transportation Corps Symposium.

The ceremony featured two Soldiers placing dog tags on a Soldier memorial (Kevlar helmet, boots and a rifle) each time the name of a fallen comrade was announced. A slide show depicted the warrior’s image and other information in the background. Thirteen Soldiers were remembered, and eight Gold Star families were in the audience to witness the tribute.

Col. Stephen E. Farmen, Chief of the Transportation Corps, recognized each of the families during the ceremony and thanked them for their sacrifice to the nation.

"To all of our Gold Star families here today, we owe a debt of gratitude that we can never fully repay," Farmen said during his remarks that followed the tribute. "Yet, we will do our best in our commitment to never forget you or your fallen heroes."

Keeping these families near and dear to the Transportation Corps is important for the organization, the colonel said.

"You will always remain in the sweet spot of our Transportation Corps family," he said. "We are here for you, and the loved ones who were lost serving our corps and our country will never be forgotten. You honor us with your presence here this morning. We are forever grateful to you - for you and your loved one's service and sacrifice.

"You being here today gives us inspiration, strength and the resilience to persevere and forge ahead to try to live up to your fallen hero's spirit, service and sacrifice," Farmen continued.

Among the eight families who attended the ceremony, two shared a astounding bond " their children served and died together. Pfc. William B. Dawson and Pfc. Jaysine P.S. Petree were killed in combat Sept. 24, 2010, while serving with the 109th Transportation Company, 17th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 3rd Maneuver Enhancement Brigade in Afghanistan. The Dawson and the Petree families embraced each other, recalled special memories and posed for pictures in front of the Soldier memorial after the ceremony.

Dawson's mother, Quita Dawson, said she didn't encourage her son to join the Army.

"I wanted him to go to college, but he wanted to go to the Army," she said. "He wanted to be an 88 Mike. He wanted to drive trucks. He was doing what he wanted to do … following a dream."

His grandmother, Marilyn Dawson, agreed and said he wanted to be a Soldier since he was a very small boy. "That's all he wanted to do," she said.

Having served in the Army for only one year and 14 days when he was killed, Dawson talked often to his family and kept them updated on Facebook, family members said. His last message there is still fresh in his mother's memory.

"On the morning of the 24th, he posted a Facebook message; they were splitting up his platoon and he wrote ‘Nothing good lasts forever,'" said Quita, with tears in her eyes.

Other members of the Dawson family expressed their pride in the Transportation Corps and the Army for taking the time to remember their son.

"I'm happy they were able to honor him with this ceremony," Quita said. "We are very proud of the service we have received from the Army."

David Muhr, the father of Spc. Sean A. Muhr, drove from Iowa to be at the observance.

"I think it was a very nice ceremony," Muhr said. "I enjoyed getting an opportunity to see the installation."

Spc. Muhr, a reservist, had served in Iraq and was completing a subsequent assignment in Afghanistan when he died Jan. 29. His military truck was struck by a roadside bomb. David said his son had been home on leave in early January and had only returned to Afghanistan Jan. 12.

A plaque with all of the names of the Fallen Heroes recognized during the ceremony will be displayed at the Transportation Corps Headquarters, located in the Sustainment Center of Excellence at Fort Lee.