Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens held the Memorial Day observance in the Circle of the Immortals on Monday, May 25th.  The key note speaker, Rear Admiral Edgar S. Keats, USN (Ret.) gave a heart felt speech on the risks of preserving our freedom and Democracy and the cost of doing so. For the last seven  years I have been honored to participate in the ceremony to cherish the memory of the loved and lost.

The following Marylanders have given their lives for our country since Memorial Day 2008.

• Lieutenant Colonel James J. Walton, USA ,41, Rockville, June 21, 2008, Afghanistan
• Sergeant Ryan P. Baumann, USA, 24, Rockville, August 1, 2008, Afghanistan
• Staff Sergeant David L. Paquet, USA ,26, Rising Sun, August 20, 2008, Afghanistan
• Captain Jesse Melton, III, USMC, 29, Randallstown, September 9, 2008, Afghanistan
• Colonel Michael R. Stahlman, USMC, 45, Chevy Chase, October 5, 2008 Iraq
• Private Charles Y. Barnett, USA, 19, Bel Air, November 20, 2008, Iraq
• Mater Sergeant Anthony Davis, USA, 43, Baltimore, November 25, 2008 Iraq
• Captain Brian M. Bunting, USA, 29, Potomac, February 24, 2009, Afghanistan
• Sergeant James R. McIlvaine, USMC, 26, Olney, April 30, 2009, Iraq

My sincere gratitude is extended to the families who have endured this painful and costly sacrifice for our  freedom.