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Published Saturday, June 13, 2009 in Opinion

Nearby neighbor -- a fallen hero -- will be laid to rest

Editorial

"Taps," 24 musical notes that have become America's most famous and most emotional bugle call, will be sounded in a Fayetteville cemetery this afternoon when one of our country's fallen heroes is laid to rest with military honors.

Staff Sgt. John C. Beale, 39, of McDonough was killed in action in Afghanistan on June 4. He was one of three Georgia soldiers killed that day. The others: Maj. Kevin M. Jenrette, 37, of Lula and Specialist Jeffrey W. Jordan, 21, of Rome.

Beale's body arrived at Falcon Field in Peachtree City on Friday. Residents from Henry, Fayette, Coweta and other counties lined the roads as police escorted the body to McDonough Funeral Home. Following the funeral at Eagle's Landing First Baptist Church at 1 p.m. today, burial will follow at Camp Memorial Park in Fayetteville.

On this day when our nearby neighbor Sergeant Beale is buried, our thoughts and prayers go out to this man's family, and to the families of the other soldiers who paid the ultimate price in service to our country.

These men stood in harm's way as brave soldiers defending freedom.

Our nation recently celebrated Memorial Day and remembered all our fallen heroes. Today we remember Sergeant Beale and these two other Georgians who are fallen heroes.

On this day, our thoughts are with all the other men and women -- including some from our community -- who are in those faraway places serving their country. They, too, stand in harm's way. They are committed and determined to carry on the mission and finish the work of Sergeant Beale and the others who gave their lives serving "the land of the free and the home of the brave."

God bless America.

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