Remember the fallen

I ask that the folks of Lampasas take a moment on this day to say a prayer for the fallen heroes who have protected this country so we may have our freedom. Pray for our heroes in Iraq now and their families who have had to carry on without them.

On the morning of Oct. 23, 1983, a terrorist drove a truck full of explosives into the compound being used by American troops during their peacekeeping mission in Beirut, Lebanon. The truck was detonated inside the barracks. Our nation lost 241 heroes: 220 Marines, 18 Navy personnel and 3 Amy soldiers. Sixty Americans were injured.

One of those Marines is very special to me: Lance Cpl. Virgel Dean Hamilton. Virgel was looking forward to his re-enlistment on the Marine Corps birthday, which also was his birthday. He was supposed to be finished with his deployment in time to be home for Christmas with his family. Instead, on Nov. 9, the day before his 21st birthday and re-enlistment, Virgel was buried in the Butler County Memorial Garden Cemetery.

We cannot let our heroes who perished in Beirut be forgotten.

Ramona Green sister of Lance Cpl. Virgel Dean Hamilton