HEROES

Reader saddened by military death

Major Richard "Dick" D. Winters of the United States Army was laid to rest last week at the age of 92. When I learned of this man's death I felt a deep and profound sense of loss. I was surprised to find that my reaction to the loss of this one man was so hurtful. I had never met the man and I knew him best through the books of author Stephen Ambrose and the subsequent HBO mini-series Band of Brothers. As I reflected upon this, I came to better understand what Major Winters represented to me. This man was the embodiment of every virtue and strength of character that I had been taught to strive for as a child.

Major Winters was honest, had great integrity, and spent much of his life in service to others. He was a war hero, a successful businessman, a proud and loving father, and yet a man very humble in receiving praise. He was a modern day equivalent of the heroes and titans of classical mythology. In my mind, Major Winters was also the very ideas of country and patriotism come to life. His own life story makes me proud to be an American. Major Winters reflected the greatness of a nation back upon its people.

As a member of our greatest generation, Major Dick Winters may have lived through what has been, thus far, the apex of our exceptional American experiment. I would like to thank him and all other members of our armed forces, both past and present, for their service and sacrifice. The hard work of these numerous men and women has helped to secure the freedoms and prosperity that we all enjoy today.

Schrade Rouse

Ellensburg