Courtesy Photo | David and Debbie Emard, parents of fallen Soldier Spc. Jonathan Emard, attended the...... read more read more
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FORT HOOD, Texas - Spc. Jonathan Emard, 20, was killed June 4, 2008, in Tikrit, Iraq, when his unit was attacked by enemy forces using small-arms fire and hand grenades.
At Fort Hood, his is one of 97 photographs of fallen service members enshrined in the Survivor Outreach Service's Hall of Remembrance. The 8"x 10" photos reflect the faces of fallen Soldiers and Marines following their weddings, combat missions or other photo sessions.
Some are in uniform, some dressed casually, but all are represented the way their families wanted them to be remembered.
The hall has room for more than 700 photos, and staff members hope more survivor families choose to honor their Soldiers on the walls of the hall.
Whether their deaths were due to combat, homicide, suicide, training or vehicular accidents, all of them died while serving on active-duty.
The Soldiers pictured on the wall are mothers and fathers, sons and daughters, brothers and sisters whose memories live on not only in the hearts and minds of their loved ones, but now in a solemn room at Fort Hood dedicated to their service and in memory of their sacrifices.
Survivor Outreach Services, an Army program started last year, provides centralized support, referral and information services to survivors of fallen Soldiers, regardless of the manner or cause of the Soldier's death.
As part of SOS's growing services and desire to honor fallen Soldiers, the Hall of Remembrance, the first of its kind in the Army, was established.
"It was an idea as our services were growing," Janeth Lopez, coordinator, Fort Hood SOS program, said.
Since the SOS office building had more than ample space, the staff chose to dedicate one large room for the Hall of Remembrance to display family-selected and donated photos of active-duty service members with ties to the Fort Hood program's area of responsibility.
Fort Hood Survivors Outreach Service's area of responsibility includes 175 North and Central Texas counties, which covers 755 families who represent 613 Soldiers.
The Emards are one of those families.
It took David and Debbie Emard almost 18 months following Jonathan's death to come to SOS.
After their son was killed, the Emards received a mail-out from SOS at Fort Hood, but there was too much going on in their lives with several memorial services and dedications honoring their son.
"That first year, there was just too much going on," Debbie said. "We were just sort of overloaded."
The Emards got involved with the Fort Hood SOS program when they received the mail-out about the Hall of Remembrance and were intrigued.
"We wanted to see what it is all about," Debbie said.
The Emards liked the idea, so they contacted SOS and submitted a photo.
"It is honoring our son," Debbie said. "It's a good way to honor him."
For their submission to the Hall, David and Debbie chose a photo of their son wearing his uniform.
"It's how we wanted him remembered," David said.
Although the Emards attended the private opening for the Hall, Dec. 22, they returned for the official opening Monday night, when Jonathan's sister, Jennifer Marler, sang two original songs she wrote following her brother's death.
Since their initial visit to Fort Hood SOS, the Emard family has gotten involved with the program, mostly for shared experiences with other surviving families.
"A lot of times we pick up something from other families," David said. "It helps to help others."
They said they have learned their emotions are normal and shared by many families who have lost a Soldier.
Widow Denisa Thomas also has found much-needed support and assistance at the SOS office.
Thomas' husband, Chief Warrant Officer 2 Terry Thomas, an Apache pilot, was killed Sept. 19, 2006, during a training mission in Germany.
In the aftermath of his death, Denisa sought assistance from an ill-prepared post at Illesheim, Germany, for herself and the couple's two children, now 12 and 10.
Following a friend who helped her after her husband's death, the German-born Bosnian came to Fort Hood last July.
When she contacted SOS, Denisa finally found the information and support she had sought.
Her questions were answered, she found help enrolling her children in school, and Denisa found a group of people who understand her situation and experiences.
"It's the kind of support everybody wishes and hopes for," she said. "I really felt taken care of."
Denisa attends meetings at SOS to share her experiences and listen to others' stories.
"We are all trying to move forward," she said.
Staff at SOS helped Denisa get her children enrolled in school here and provided a smooth transition for their move from Germany.
The program also provides Family Life Consultant services, financial and survivor benefits services and support groups to survivors.
Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors shares office space and resources for comprehensive care and support to surviving family members.
While many Army services are being cut or eliminated, the SOS program continues to expand as part of the Army Family Covenant, the Army's commitment to care for families.
"The program is in place and going strong," Lopez said. "We are keeping our promise that the families are not forgotten."
For most surviving families, that is the promise they seek — that their Soldier is remembered and never forgotten.
The Hall of Remembrance is for all active-duty casualties, and for all survivors, Lopez stressed.
"What better way to honor the fallen and their sacrifice," she said.
The Emards and 96 other survivor families have agreed.
With the Hall of Remembrance, David, Debbie and Jennifer have found a place where their Soldier is never forgotten.
Memorials and events have slowed since Jonathan's death, and David and Debbie have gotten a chance to absorb the events of the past 18 months, but the grief process continues with the war and current events.
"You don't get to a point where it stops," Debbie said.
Families in the Central or North Texas area who would like to submit a photograph of their loved one can contact Survivor Outreach Services at 288-3655 for more information about the Hall of Remembrance or services available through the program.
| Date Taken: | 01.18.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 01.18.2010 10:38 |
| Story ID: | 44061 |
| Location: | FORT HOOD, TX, US |
| Web Views: | 677 |
| Downloads: | 617 |
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