Pause for a moment on Memorial Day

A year ago at this time, the community waited anxiously as its first

servicemen started returning from Iraq.

Marine Staff Sgt. Charles “Cass” Spence of Costa Mesa was the

first, coming home after a four-month tour. He was greeted by his

family, who alternated between smiles and tears as they welcomed him.

Marine reservist Lance Cpl. Ian Voss of Newport Beach followed

him.

Then, U.S. Marine Cpl. Bryan Bergey returned -- but not whole.

Days before his scheduled departure, Bergey was caught in an ambush.

Shrapnel hit him in the right eye, throat and forehead.

He lost that eye.

Others did not come back. Marine Cpl. Jose Garibay of Costa Mesa

gave his life serving America in the opening weeks of the war. He was

posthumously given his citizenship and has since been honored by

Costa Mesa’s Assemblyman Ken Maddox and Newport-Mesa Supervisor Jim

Silva in a “wall of honor,” which will display photos of military

service people.

This year, the community lost another of its own: 22-year-old

Trevor Win’E. The longtime Costa Mesa resident and U.S. Army

specialist died in action in Tikrit, Iraq, on May 1 after the truck

he was driving hit an improvised bomb the previous day.

His death was a painful reminder of war’s ultimate cost.

As we said a year ago, the war in Iraq has provided all of us,

those who supported the fighting and those who opposed it, with a new

generation of heroes.

Twice a year, on Memorial Day and Veterans Day, this country stops

to pay homage to those who have served and sacrificed. The pictures

and stories that continue to come from Iraq are a haunting, vivid

reminder that two days is just the tip of all the thanks they

deserve.

On Monday, all in this community should take time to remember

those who have fought to keep America safe and those who gave their

lives serving this country. We all should also remember that, even

now, there are men and women once again at war.