Not a happy day

The crawfish, beer, hot dogs and rays from the beach probably went way too far to our heads too quickly. It’s the only excuse I can come up with.

On Facebook pages and on the street, I have heard or read one too many cheerful “Happy Memorial Day” greetings.

Hardly.

There are other Memorial Day faux pas. As my friend Thomas Ruyle, who has served in the Army hastens to point out, this day is not for vets like him, nor is it for those who currently serve. It is for those who did not come back.

Can you name a single person who has died in these two regrettable wars the nation has most recently suffered? Can you name someone who died in the wars before that?

I am willing to bet that if you can, it is likely you aren’t one of those wishing a Happy Memorial Day to anyone. Because if you know a name, then you know what’s behind it.

So, now that the grills have cooled and the beer is gone, here is a crash course in Memorial Day etiquette that will prepare you for next year. Take one of the names below and adopt that soldier, sailor, airman or marine as your Memorial Day hero. And next year, when this day of remembrance rolls around, instead of telling someone “Happy Memorial Day” you can tell them. “I’m remembering Sgt. Christopher Babin, or Spec. Bradley Bergeron or Spec. Armand Frickey, all from Houma, or Sgt. 1st Class Kurt Comeaux of Raceland, who were killed Jan. 6, 2005, when their Bradley fighting vehicle was blown up by an IED in Iraq. Also killed in that attack were Spec. Huey Fassbender, of Laplace, and Spec. Warren Murphy, of Marrero. Sgt. Kenneth Gerald Grimm Von Ronn, of Pine Bush, N.Y., a member of the famed “Fighting 69th” infantry regiment, was killed with them.”

On Dec. 4, 2006, Sgt. Jay R. Gauthreaux, of Thibodaux, was killed in Iraq, while on a humanitarian mission.

On Sept. 3, 2007, Staff Sgt. Ronnie L. Sanders, also of Thibodaux, was killed in Baghdad.

First Sgt. Michael Bordelon, of Morgan City, died May 10, 2005, at a San Antonio Hospital, of wounds sustained when a car bomb detonated near his Stryker military vehicle on April 22 of that same year.

On July 14, 2008, Staff Sgt. Danny Dupre, of Lockport, a marine, died in Falluja from wounds suffered during an attack of small arms fire.

Chief Warrant Officer Bryan J. Henderson, of Franklin, was killed in Afghanistan when his UH-60 Black Hawk crashed.

If you still want more names to choose from, here are a few more suggestions. This list of those who died in Iraq is by no means exhaustive but it’s a start.

Army Pfc. Lionel Ayro, Jeanerette; Army 1st Lt. Christopher W. Barnett, Baton Rouge; Army Pfc. Wilfred D. Bellard, Lake Charles; Marine Pfc. David P. Burridge, Lafayette; Marine Lance Cpl. Donald E. Champlin, Natchitoches; Marine Lance Cpl. Derrick J. Cothran, Avondale; Army Staff Sgt. Craig Davis, Opelousas; Army Spc. Robert L. DuSang, Mandeville; Marine Pfc. Chase A. Edwards, Lake Charles; Army Spc. Michael S. Evans II, Marrero; Army Sgt. Lee M. Godbolt, New Orleans; Army Sgt. 1st Class Peter J. Hahn, Metairie; Army Sgt. Paul M. Heltzel, Baton Rouge; Marine Sgt. Jeffrey L. Kirk, Baton Rouge; Army Sgt. Rene Knox, Jr., New Orleans; Army Pfc. James P. Lambert, New Orleans; Army Staff Sgt. Toby W. Mallet, Kaplan; Army Staff Sgt. William F. Manuel, Kinder; Marine Lance Cpl. Ryan S. McCurdy, Baton Rouge; Marine Lance Cpl. Justin D. McLeese, Covington; Army Spc. Warren A. Murphy, Marrero; Army Sgt. David J. Murray, Clinton; Army Sgt. Nicholas J. Olivier, Ruston; Army Staff Sgt. Jonathan R. Reed, Opelousas; Army Staff Sgt. Jens E. Schelbert, New Orleans; Army Sgt. Isiah J. Sinclair, Natchitoches; Army Spc. Brandon L. Teeters, Lafayette; Army Spc. Joseph C. Thibodeaux, Lafayette; Army Sgt. Taft V. Williams, New Orleans.

In Afghanistan the Louisiana dead include Army Pfc. Kristian Eirik, Slidell; Army Cpl. David Maurice Fraise, New Orleans; Army Cpl. Richard Phillip Schoener, Hayes; Navy Chief Petty Officer Jacques Jules Fontan, New Orleans; Army Sgt. Barbaralien Banks, Harvey; Army Pfc. Benny Shantell Franklin, Hammond; Army Staff Sgt. Michael Gabel, Crowley; Army Sgt. 1st Class David Todd Jr., Marrero; Army Pfc. Jason Watson, Many; Army Pfc. Matthew Wildes, Hammond; Army Sgt. Patrick O. Williamson, Broussard; Army Pfc. Brian Bates, Gretna; Marine Sgt. Joseph A. Bovia, Kenner; Army Spc. Matthew C. Powell, Slidell; Army Spc. Steven Dupont, Lafayette; Army Spc. Christian Romig, Kenner; Marine Cpl. Matthew T. Richard, Acadia; Air Force Tech. Sgt. Daniel Douville, Harvey.