Honoring a 'Hometown Hero'

To the Editor:

Everybody has their heroes. Mine is my brother, Bob, who fought in the Vietnam War.

Each of us often worry about what could happen and if we could really depend on our community to support us.

Well, Brazil, you did yourself proud.

I could not be there because of illness in my family, but I watched it on television and I was so proud of the town that I live on.

Thank you for reassuring all of us.

My heart goes out to the Stultz family and I know that the pain never goes away. It just gets a little easier to bear, but God is with you and from what I saw, so is the city of Brazil. May God bless you.

I wrote this poem while watching them escort the body of this brave Marine to the funeral home.

Hometown Hero

On a cold February day, with the snow coming down,

Hundreds of people gathered in a small Indiana town

For they had come to honor a courageous young man

Who had died while protecting the freedom of our great land

With many tear-stained faces, they held their flags up high

As they gave him one last salute, when he passed by.

So let us long remember this brave Hometown Hero

And the price that he paid because he loved his country so.

In loving memory of Cpl. Gregory S. Stultz, who passed away Feb. 19, 2010.

Judie A. Durbin,

Brazil