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Church honors fallen soldiers
The tribute now includes the soldier’s name, rank, hometown and date of death.
COLUMBIANA — The Rev. David Conrad and congregation of Jerusalem Lutheran Church devote prayer time to remember soldiers serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.
To honor those who have died, it’s been the mission of the church to post a red star in the sanctuary. The project began in 2006.
Now two new members of the church, Carol and Ray Dawson, assisted by Nelda Hawkins, church secretary, have taken the project to another level.
They’ve redone the tribute of stars to include every soldier’s name, rank, hometown and date of death. This new dimension to the military tribute reveals how the war has affected the length and breadth of America — from big cities to small towns.
As of Tuesday, there were 4,118 stars on 137 sheets of paper that encircle the walls of the sanctuary nearly twice, covering 97 feet. Each sheet has 30 soldiers’ names and stars.
“We were drawn here ... I believe God led us here,” Ray Dawson said, recalling how he and his wife came to the church at 415 S. Main St.
“It’s one thing when a family member dies of a disease or accident,” Carol Dawson said. “It’s something else when you know they’re going off to war and that they might die. ...”
The Columbiana couple, who have lost children to natural causes, said they understand the grief of families who have lost sons and daughters and other family members in this war.
“Prayer helped us so much,” Carol Dawson said, noting that it was comforting to know people they knew and even strangers had prayed for them. They hope the congregation’s prayers for the military personnel have the same effect on the soldiers’ families.
Ray Dawson said he has experienced the grief of losing someone in war. “A friend was killed in Vietnam. It devastated his family,” he said, noting he has never forgotten his friend. He served in the Navy from 1957 to 1961.
The Rev. Mr. Conrad, pastor,and Hawkins said they had discussed the idea of researching the names of those killed in Iraq and Afghanistan but admitted the project seemed daunting.
When the Dawsons suggested that adding the names would personalize the tribute and add to its meaning, it was decided to proceed. The couple took down the sheets with stars and spent hours putting up the new ones, which they arranged to have printed.
“This isn’t about us; it’s about the families,” Carol Dawson said. “We’re doing what the Lord would want us to do,” Mr. Conrad said.
Hawkins said she checked the Web site, http://icasualties.org and created a database. As of Monday, 4,125 deaths were reported; the church will be adding more names once they are posted on the Web site. Hawkins updates the information as it becomes available. A directory is maintained with listing by state for visitors looking for a specific person.
The wall of stars is a poignant visual tribute to the ultimate sacrifice of the soldiers and a reminder to pray for them and their families.
“For the families, they’re under constant tension. That takes its toll,” said Mr. Conrad. He pointed out that a late-night phone call or unfamiliar car coming into the driveway evokes dread among military families who wonder if bad news is about to be delivered.
Though that reality is undeniable, Mr. Conrad, the Dawsons and Hawkins all agreed that the power of prayer is a potent spiritual tool.
“We hear about the war daily, and there’s a danger to become numb to it,” Mr. Conrad said. “These people were not expendable. Their families are crushed. Just because we didn’t know them doesn’t make them any less important.”
Mr. Conrad said when the war ends the stars will be buried in the church’s Peace Garden. Mr. Conrad said a lasting tribute to the soldiers’ sacrifice will be a monument that a church member has promised to donate.