Who They Are, Part II

(Source Left, Source Right)

From left to right -

• Arnaud Jean-Georges Beltrame, (18 April 1973 - 24 March 2018) Lieutenant colonel in the French Gendarmerie Nationale and deputy commander of the Departmental Gendarmerie's Aude unit, who was killed by a terrorist at Trèbes after having exchanged himself for a hostage. French President Emmanuel Macron said that Beltrame deserved "the respect and admiration of the whole nation" and Unites States President Donald Trump qualified him as a "great hero". For his bravery and adherence to duty he was posthumously promoted to colonel and made a Commander of the Legion of Honour. (Source)
• Peter Wang, (09 November 2002 - 14 February 2018) Stoneman Douglas High School shooting: Cadet Wang was last seen in his Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC) uniform, holding doors open so others could get out more quickly; Wang was unable to flee with the students when the assailant appeared and fatally shot him. He sacrificed his life for others and was called a hero. A White House petition was circulated, calling for him to be buried with full military honors. At his funeral, Cadet Wang was posthumously honored by the U.S. Army with the ROTC Medal for Heroism, and he was buried in his JROTC Blues uniform. On February 20, he was given a rare posthumous admission to the United States Military Academy. (Source)
• Alaina Petty, (22 August 2003 - 14 February 2018) Stoneman Douglas High School shooting: Her family were surprised at the beginning of the school year when Cadet Petty decided to join the high school’s JROTC program. Later they realized she was anxious to follow “her brother Patrick’s footsteps” into the program. Becoming a cadet was also a way to honor her country and contribute to her school and community. At her funeral, Cadet Petty was posthumously honored by the U.S. Army with the ROTC Medal for Heroism. (Source)
• Martin Duque Anguiano, (Not listed - 14 February 2018) Stoneman Douglas High School shooting: Cadet Duque was born in Coyuca De Catalan, Mexico. His parents brought him and his four siblings to the United States to give them a better life—and Martin had exceeded their wildest dreams. Friends and family described Martin as a fun-loving, church-going, happy teenager who loved “Star Wars” and soccer. But his proudest accomplishment was being an exemplary cadet of the junior ROTC. Martin had earned just about every award possible for a young cadet, including ribbons for personal appearance, perfect attendance, good conduct, athletics and leadership development. At his funeral, Cadet Duque was posthumously honored by the U.S. Army with the ROTC Medal for Heroism. (Source)

One man, middle-aged, a military veteran, went with eyes wide open into a situation which cost him his life. Three kids, teen-aged, perhaps with an eye to being in the military someday, went to school on a normal day, a day almost like every other day, but a day which would cost them their lives.

I added Colonel Beltrame to the masthead shortly after I read about his sacrifice -

At about 11 AM on 24 March 2018, a terrorist claiming allegiance to ISIS stormed a supermarket in Trèbes armed with a handgun, a hunting knife, and three homemade bombs. He shot two people dead and took others hostage. Police negotiated for release of the hostages, and Beltrame offered to take the place of the final one, a female cashier. Beltrame set his mobile phone on a table with its line open so that police outside could monitor activity inside. After a three-hour stand-off, the terrorist stabbed and shot Beltrame. In response, GIGN operatives stormed the supermarket at 2:40 PM and killed the assailant. (Source)

I am often dismayed at the lack of respect the men and women of the French armed forces and police services receive. Here, I thought, this man is representative of the valor of French arms and the bravery and beauty which is France at her very best. Colonel Beltrame epitomizes all that is good in France.

The three JROTC cadets weren't immediately added to the masthead, I don't really know why. But eventually, I was reading an article about those who lost their lives that day. That's when I realized that those three outstanding young people belonged up there, in the company of heroes so to speak. Because they were heroes. Young lives just beginning, cut short before their hopes and dreams could be realized.

To me, those kids represent every American who has ever put on a uniform and gone forth into the world, and never made it home. Whether they died in battle, in training, or in a senseless act perpetrated by a sick mind, their sacrifice deserves to be remembered.

Colonel Beltrame, Cadets Wang, Petty, and Duque, I salute you, I mourn your deaths, yet I thank my God that He blessed us with such people. If only for a short time.

See you on the other side.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.