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SALT LAKE CITY -- Gold Star Families, those who have lost loved ones in combat, aim to make sure we all remember their sacrifice. To do that, a couple of Utah natives are forging ahead with ambitious plans for an American Fallen Warrior Memorial to be built in Kansas.
Six Utah families and their fallen heroes were the inspiration for the memorial. Monday, those Utah families, known as the Utah 6, will be honored in a ceremony at the Utah State Capitol. In anticipation of that ceremony, they shared their stories about their sons and shed tears of pride and sorrow.
The six men being honored are Pfc. Jordan Byrd, a combat medic; Sgt. Aaron Kramer; Chief Warrant Officer Matthew Gabriel Wagstaff, an Army Blackhawk pilot; Lance Cpl. Nigel Kenton Olsen; Lance Cpl. Carlos Alberto Aragon; and Sgt. First Class Ronald Tanner Wood, who served in the Army National Guard.
Most of us will never understand the swirl of emotions this group of parents feel. They all lost sons in combat in Afghanistan and Iraq.
"They are the true heroes," Shannon Kramer, the mother of Sgt. Kramer, said.
Kim Olsen, the mother of Marine Lance Cpl. Nigel Olsen, said, "We are so bonded. There really aren't any words needed between Gold Star parents and children and families, because we know that pain that each of us has gone through."
Jody Wood, Sgt. First Class Wood's mother, said, "It's the hardest thing that's ever happened to our family."
These families and their sons are the inspiration for a 20-acre, $30 million project planned in Kansas, which to be funded with donations.
They've bonded over their boys, who they believe are a band of brothers now in heaven.
"I think the military offered him a chance to do all the things he felt were important in his life," Wood said.
Now they support each other and other Gold Star families, even though they've never met each other's sons.
"I couldn't have made it through the last couple of years without these marvelous people," Olsen said.
The families stress that there are more than 100 Gold Star families here in Utah, and thousands more across the country. Their sons and daughters have made the same ultimate sacrifice. They all will be honored in the Fallen Warrior memorial.
"It's more than just honoring our fallen, it's also educating our future generations," Suzanne Wagstaff said.
Brad Halliday the stepfather of Lance Cpl. Aragon, said, "It's going to represent, I think, the true spirit of America."
The families hope many Americans will support the monument and always remember why their sons gave their lives.
Ron Wood, father of Army Sgt. First Class Wood, said, "Sometimes it's hard to get their attention. Hopefully this will get their attention so that they can think more about those people who are dedicating their lives to them."
"He died for those rights and freedoms, and I don't want his death to be in vain," Suzanne Wagstaff said.
The two founders of the American Fallen Warrior Memorial are on their way to Utah. They're putting on a ceremony at the Capitol Monday afternoon to honor these families and all families of fallen heroes.
