By Ashley McLeod, Staff Writer
May 29, 2013, 12:29
More than 30 butterflies filled the air on Wednesday, in honor of 20 fallen service members being remembered at the Survivors Memory Garden at Fort Lee.
“Butterflies are a symbol of life and freedom,” said Angela Bellamy with Survivor Outreach Services before the butterflies were released.
The butterflies were handed out among the survivors in the crowd, which included children as well as parents and spouses. Each butterfly represented a lost service member, honoring their sacrifice.
“The highest honor anyone can give is to lay down their life for someone, and it’s important to always give homage,” said Stephanie Parker, Director of Army Community Services at Fort Lee.
Parker lost her father, an Air Force tech sergeant, at the age of 3.
Garrison Commander Col. Rodney Edge spoke at the ceremony, which was the first of its kind at the garden.
“Memorial Day is a time set aside to always remember and never forget those that have bravely served our country and paid the price for the cost of our freedom,” Edge said.
Forty-four survivors were in attendance to represent the 20 fallen service members being recognized. Deborah Leach was one of those in the crowd. Leach was there in remembrance of her son, Spc. Richard McNulty. Leach said she visits the garden at least once a week.
“It’s a beautiful place to come in and just reflect on our kids, our spouses,” Leach said.
Photos of those lost family members lined the walkways of the garden, surrounded by flowers. The garden serves as a place for those who have lost loved ones to be able to reflect and remember their lost family members.
Also in attendance was Lawrence G. Sprader Sr. to represent his son, Sgt. Lawrence G Sprader Jr.
Sgt. Sprader served two tours in Iraq and was participating in an exercise when he disappeared for four days, suffering from hyperthermia and dehydration. He was 24 when he died.
“It’s nice to come here and meet and connect with other survivors, to talk about it all,” Sprader said.
Though grief is dealt with in different ways with different people, sharing personal stories and having someone to talk to, or a place to go to feel less alone, helps survivors with their grief. This is the purpose of Survivor Outreach Services and the garden, to help others get through their losses.
“The bottom line is you need to know you’re not alone, and that’s why we’re here,” Parker said.
The Memory Garden was opened last year and is open to any survivor who wishes to come and visit and honor those who lost their lives while serving our country.
