Although the first monument dedicated to Minnesotans who have died in Iraq only stayed in Cloquet for a couple of hours on Tuesday, those who saw it were reminded that what is going on so far away is also directly hitting us here at home.
Since 2002, Minnesota has lost 60-some people, four in the Carlton County area, because of the war on terror. But as the mother of a Marine killed in Iraq in 2004 put it, "Numbers don't tell the story, names do."
As veterans, area residents and family members gathered around the travelling monument, it seemed that the names of the 61 Minnesotans listed (others, unfortunately, to be added) were speaking to them.
Veterans saluted those names, while some citizens pointed to certain names and others stared silently at the names which were surrounded by flowers and numerous flags blowing in the breeze.
That same mother, Loretta Angell, was glad to see her son's name etched into a monument.
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"It helps everyone to remember," she said. "I don't want any of these people to get lost in the shuffle of daily life."
And for many of us, the shuffle of daily life causes us to focus on other things. We neglect and skim over the daily reports of the number of casualties, the number of troops serving there, going over there or coming home.
Loretta's son's name is Levi. Levi Angell was Loretta's second-born son, who chose to be a Marine and volunteered to go to Iraq after serving in Kuwait. He came home to Cloquet for Christmas and left for Iraq in January 2004. He was killed on April 8, 2004, exactly six months before his 21st birthday.
"He got along really well with a lot of people," his mother said. "He was very proud to be a Marine and it made a man out of him. He did enjoy it."
His death still hits the family hard, but Loretta points out that the impact doesn't end there.
"It doesn't just touch one family per person," she said. Judging by the numerous veterans and Carlton County residents who attended and did not have immediate relatives on the list, Loretta is correct.
Thankfully, the names of those who have died are forever etched in black granite thanks to four Minnesota citizens who wanted to do something for the people they lost in Iraq. They are also heroes.
Lisa Baumann
