OUR TURN: Holbrook’s death reminder Texans don’t shirk duty

The death of Army Capt. Jason Ellis Holbrook — a former Burnet resident — is a stark reminder to all of us the United States remains at war and wars are not won without sacrifice.

Sometimes it seems that military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan are all but forgotten by Americans, relegated to short sound bites on the evening news about car bombings and improvised explosive devices.

Too many on these shores have forgotten about the deadly battles each day that play out as part of Operation Enduring Freedom, and the thousands of American lives that have been claimed.

These deaths should mean more than just a few scattered news briefs.

Indeed, the war has continued now for nine years, longer than World War II.

We have brave men and women fighting overseas every day to ensure that the persecution and the Dark Age mentality of religious zealots is not imported to this country.

Yet too many of us are caught up in the trends of the day and our own lives to remember that blood is being shed on our behalf by good men and good women who answered their country’s call.

Whether one accepts the wars or not, it shouldn’t stop you from supporting the troops.

It was obvious the weekend of Aug. 7 the people of the Highland Lakes remember their heroes.

When Holbrook’s body was flown to the Burnet Municipal Airport prior to his funeral service, hundreds of mourners lined the roads of Burnet to pay their last respects. Many had yellow ribbons and waved small flags.

They had not forgotten the toll the war has taken on our community.

Burnet City Hall shut down and Old Glory flew at half-staff.

A hero had come home — Jason Ellis Holbrook, Burnet High School Class of 2000 and a United States Military Academy graduate.

An officer and a gentleman. And the sixth service member from the Highland Lakes to have lost his life in the war since 2004.

Texans do not forget the toll the war has taken. These casualties are brothers and sisters, wives and husbands, friends and relatives, and often mothers and fathers.

According to some reports, at least 13 percent of the 2 million troops who have served in Afghanistan and Iraq since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, are from Texas.

And Texas last week recorded its 500th death in the war. More than 5,000 service members overall have died during the hostilities.

The men and women of this state do not shirk their responsibility when their country asks them to serve, which may explain why Texans have such a deep and abiding sense of patriotism — even when the governor half-jokes about seceding from the Union.

Sacrifices such as Holbrook’s are not easily forgotten.

His death from an IED during a reconnaissance patrol was not in vain, because he was in Afghanistan for the right reasons — he wanted to be there and he wanted to serve his country.

The rest of us would do well to remember that, and to pay a little more attention to the proud efforts of our armed forces. What they do, they do for us.

The River Cities Daily Tribune editorial board includes Dan Alvey, Amber Weems, Thomas Edwards and Daniel Clifton.