Mt. Vernon Register-News

Opinion

January 18, 2006

In memory of a fallen Marine

In war, people die, even when the soldiers belong to the world’s most powerful military force. Lance Cpl. Jonathan Kyle Price knew this, but it did not deter him from enlisting in the Marines.

Price enlisted after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, and after President Bush and Congress sent the military to Afghanistan and Iraq. Price enlisted knowing our country was at war and that he would likely be called to serve in the fight against terrorism.

We all hope and pray that the men and women in our armed forces — our mothers and fathers, husbands and wives, sons and daughters — come back to us safely. Unfortunately, that does not always happen. Price was killed Friday by enemy fire while guarding a site in Ramadi, Iraq.

Nobody wants to die in war, but there are those like Price who are willing to die for the safety and security of the United States, for their hometown, for their families.

We as Jefferson County residents are proud that there are people in our community who do not shy away from military service, even at a time of war, to be part of the worldwide effort to protect this great nation.

They are giving of themselves to something far greater than themselves.

This county does a good job recognizing and honoring its soldiers and veterans and doubtlessly this will continue. When one of our own pays the ultimate price, it brings the realities of war to our doorstep.

Our thoughts and prayers go out the Price family, his fiancee and unborn daughter.

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Opinion