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Sunday, May 26, 2013

"A Memorial for Memorial day...in loving memory..." 'Deborah Morel'

Dakinetalk would like to welcome back our newest guest-blogger
Deborah Morel. Deborah talks about and memorializes 

the late U.S. Army Sergeant Major Bill Barchers on this Memorial day.
Deborah is a Human and Judicial rights advocate. One of her favorite quotes close
to heart is, "The dead cannot cry out for justice; it is a duty of the living to do this for them."
Lois McMaster Bujold

A Tribute, A Memorial For Memorial day

Kapa'a High School--and the 
community of Kaua'i--had the 
incredibly good fortune to have 
retired U.S. Army Sergeant Major 
Bill Barchers to teach, and lead 
the school's Jr. ROTC for several 
years. KHS could not ask for 
more. I came to know Sgt. Mjr. 
Barchers as my child was in his 
Jr. ROTC class for two years. Sgt. 
Mjr. Barchers touched the lives 
of so many cadets. The students 
thrived, learned responsibility, 
how to be respectful, and of 
strong character.

The students admired and trusted 
Sgt. Mjr. Barchers; these 
students had every reason to feel 
this way. Sgt. Mjr. Barchers 
spent time with these young 
students, I often seeing 
this "brigade" about town. It was 
comforting to see such dedication 
to our youth, and from a 
community member. Students 
looked to Sgt. Mjr. Bill Barchers 
for direction. 

At times, I did the same as well--
being from a U.S. military family, 
my father a retired Lt. Col., 
USMC, Commanding Officer, and 
mother a U.S. Naval nurse. Sgt. 
Mjr. Barchers' years of service in 
the U.S. Army Special Forces 
speak clearly to his sacrifices 
made, and on behalf of our 
country. I could not hold more 
respect.

Sgt. Mjr. Bill Barchers has left a 
lasting impression--that every 
U.S. citizen might exercise freely 
what we cherish as freedom; Sgt. 
Mjr.. Barchers has left a lasting 
impression on the Kaua'i 
community. How fortunate we 
are to have known such a fine 
person.

Check out a photo of Bill giving a speech during a wreath laying ceremony to honor the 65th anniversary of the end of World War II at the Naples Memorial Gardens in Naples, on August 14, 2010.
http://www.naplesnews.com/photos/galleries/2010/aug/14/wwii-ceremony/126779/#section_header


You can sign the enclosed guestbook for Bill and express your condolences if you wish at,Visit Guest Book for William Barchers.
http://www.legacy.com/guestbooks/naplesnews/guestbook.aspx?n=william-barchers&pid=164903134&page=2 

Below is one of the many entries,

Analytic, chiseled, decisive, hard, humorous, ingenuitive, loyal, obstinate, orator, quick, smart, and crusty ol' son-of-a-gun; great example of a Patriot!

These were just some of his characteristics that made him the colorful, gregarious and charismatic guy who laughed at his own mistakes (sometimes after we did first) and would chew the fat with anyone who would listen and give the time.
Thanks for being a part of our lives and being part of the legends and stories we'll tell that make people do double takes in what sometimes is a mixture of jealousy, wonder and amazement.
RIP, Bill, we're all better for knowing you and we're certainly gonna miss you!
~
Wayne Oien
Wisconsin

A similar version of this blog was published as an opinion article in the 05-22-13 edition of the Kaua'i Garden Island News;
http://thegardenisland.com/news/opinion/mailbag/letters-for-wednesday-may/article_766cbc6c-c2ac-11e2-b44f-001a4bcf887a.html


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