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| 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_headerYou can sign the enclosed guestbook for Bill and express your condolences if you wish at,Visit Guest Book for William Barchers.
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
http://thegardenisland.com/news/opinion/mailbag/letters-for-wednesday-may/article_766cbc6c-c2ac-11e2-b44f-001a4bcf887a.html
Hana Hou, (Encore) Shared from Facebook...
4 comments:
Thank you Kimo, for helping to memorialize such a respected U.S. Army Officers as (Ret.) Sgt. Mjr. Barchers. What impressive work you did on this piece. I will forward this story to family and friends of Bill. I know this will be dearly appreciated. This letter was one of the most difficult to write. The loss of Bill is felt.
He sounds like a great man, wish I would had known him. May we all memorialize all the men and woman in uniform who are no longer with us on this 2013 Memorial day. Happy Memorial day and may God or whoever you believe in Bless America and the World.
I added a Memorial day cartoon to the Hana Hou section of the blog, check it out!
Yes, Kimo--Bill Barchers was a great man. He had determination, commitment, and never pulled any punches. You want the truth? Ask Bill Barchers. Never the fair weathered friend, but a true, enduring friend.
Never political in his ways of treating people. Nothing to wade through to get to the truth.
Bill stood by his oaths to be honest, ethical, and demonstrate integrity--never waviering for personal gain.
Bill stood by his cadets, soldiers, family,friends, and his Country to the end. Sgt. Mjr. Barchers was in a league of his own.
My family spent the morning at the Mayor's Memorial Day Ceremony at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Honolulu.
On a monument was written:
"The solemn pride that must be
yours to have laid so costly a
sacrifice upon the altar of
freedom."
God bless those men and women serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. President Abraham Lincoln spoke to those who fell in the line of duty serving our nation, in saying that these men and women give "the last full measure of their devotion to serve" our Nation.
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