In memory

The last few days have been difficult for everyone in Clay County.

One of our own, Marine Cpl. Gregory Scott Stultz, was killed in combat Friday, Feb. 19, 2010.

When I had the chance to meet with his family to discuss the life of Cpl. Stultz, I learned he died on his brother's birthday

I also learned one of his sisters was due to give birth at any moment.

In death brings new life. Under this circumstance, that saying brought heavy meaning.

I was given the opportunity to meet with the family and, after sitting down with them, I didn't know what to say.

As reporters, we come in prepared for nearly everything.

Sure, sometimes we are thrown a curve ball. But that's part of the game. We take the curve and adjust.

But on that day, the words weren't working.

How do you approach?

What do you say?

I felt as if my mind went blank.

A family lost a son.

A nation lost a hero.

For Clay County, this hasn't happened for a very long time. In fact, the last time county residents mourned in this way, was before I was born.

On Wednesday, residents of Clay County came out in droves to honor a man many of them had not met.

We honor the memory of Cpl. Stultz in unison.

Hopefully, we will continue to honor that memory and what he stood for.

Freedom.