Mothers of fallen soldiers dedicate memorial

Intermountain Catholic

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Gold Star Mother Colleen Parkin (center) is honored by other Gold Star Mothers for her dream of restoring the veterans section of Salt Lake Cemetery.

SALT LAKE CITY - Members of all branches of the military, their families and friends gathered at the Salt Lake City Cemetery to honor America's Gold Star Mothers at a dedication ceremony June 12. Many wiped away tears as a new flag was raised and the national anthem was played.

The Gold Star Mothers of Utah, a group whose members have lost a son or daughter in the service of America, unveiled a large natural Utah-quarried limestone rock engraved with "In loving memory of all Gold Star Mothers, past, present and future." It now stands next to the new 35-foot flag pole in the veterans section of the cemetery.

"There are moms here that have lost their children in the conflict of war," said Colleen Parkin, a Gold Star Mother. "There are moms here that are booster moms whose children are still fighting far away for our freedom."

Parkin's son, Marine Cpl. Matthew Reed Smith, was 24 years old when he died Jan. 26, 2005 in a helicopter crash while trying to help other people in Iraq. It was a cause his mother said he believed in.

While visiting her son's grave, Parkin noticed the sunken headstones and envisioned restoring that area of the cemetery. "With the help Paul Swenson of Colonial Flag in Sandy, who donated the flag and Ed Mueller who donated the limestone rock, it's a dream come true," said Parkin. "It's an honor to do this for the Gold Star moms of the past, present and unfortunately the future."

During the ceremony, U.S. Army Gen. Neal Black said, "It is fitting to be here today to dedicate this flag in support of mothers and families who have sacrificed so much, and for soldiers who have served under the flag and have been shrouded in the flag as they were laid to rest."

The day was special for Gold Star Mother Teresa Hunt because it would have been her son Matthew's 24th birthday. But in the early morning of July 15, 2004, her doorbell rang and two men in U.S. Army dress uniforms asked if she was the mother of Private Matthew Nish. She had been asked this question many times in his 18 years and would ask why or wonder what he had done, but this time she knew why.

"Only the words, ‘Yes I am,' came out of me as my heart felt like it was being torn in half and the breath in me gone. They told me that Matthew had died late the night before," she said. "My whole world changed forever that day. I had never heard of Gold Star Mothers, yet unbeknownst to me, I became one that morning. This is a group that nobody wants to join, however, if you do, you realize what an honor it is to be a Gold Star mom. I am so lucky to know all of these strong and amazing women."

"This ceremony means a lot to me," said Gold Star Mother Geri Stephenson, a member of Saint Olaf Parish. Two of her three sons served in the U.S. Marine Corps. After graduating with honors from recruit training, her oldest son, Lance Cpl. Dion J. Stephenson, was one of the few assigned to First Force Reconnaissance, where he earned his gold jump wings, scuba bubble, and numerous other required certifications. In response to the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in August 1990, he was deployed to Saudi Arabia where his initial mission was to deny the Iraqi Army access to the Saudi oil fields and to defend the critical port and air facility of Al-Jubayl.

On the night of Jan. 29, 1991 an Iraqi brigade crossed the Saudi border and began the first of five separate attacks that became known as the Battle of Al-Khafji. While observing and directing strikes, the armored vehicle that Stephenson was assigned to was hit, killing six of the seven Marines inside. Stephenson was the only Utah Marine who was killed in action during the Persian Gulf War.