‘Not Just a Number’: Bend volunteers read names of fallen heroes

A Central Oregon Memorial Day tradition continued for the ninth year at Troy Field in downtown Bend. Volunteers took the time Monday to read aloud the names of every service member who lost their life in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

The name-reading ceremony started at 8 a.m. Monday and was expected to go until 11 p.m.

While organizers said they try to focus more on each individual name and not the number of them, they said they would be reading close to 7,000 names of fallen soldiers, including eight from Central Oregon.

It was expected to take 15 hours to read the name of every American who died in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

“The first time I printed the list, I thought I made a mistake and had printed it twice — because it’s so long,” said event organizer Tracy Miller.

Miller explained how the day is really about celebrating each soldier and their family for the sacrifices they made. The list included a 19-year-old soldier from Utah who just lost his life four days ago.

Veteran Dan Brostek said it was hard to keep it together when he heard his friend’s name read.

“I’ve seen two or three names of folks I know — a classmate from West Point. It’s very moving. It’s hard, but it’s moving,” Brostek said.

Veteran Joey Capria said Memorial Day is a very meaningful day for him, as he has many friends who have lost loved ones to war. Capria was medically discharged in 2004.

“I felt like my service was halted in the middle of what I wanted to do for my country,” Capria said.

Ten years after being discharged, Capria continued his service by starting a veteran enrichment program called RWB, Red White and Blue, in Bend. Brostek is also a part of RWB and is in charge of marketing.

“A lot of veterans struggle with isolation, so the goal is to get them out and get them moving,” Brostek said.

The organization held a 5K Memorial Day walk through Bend to spread their message.

As for Memorial Day, Brostek said,”I just want people to understand that its not just a weekend to celebrate and have a barbecue. It’s really a weekend to to remember and honor the fallen.”

For more information on the Bend chapter of RWB, visit https://www.facebook.com/TeamRWB/