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Writers moved, touched by patriotism, show of support for Lance Cpl. Fowlkes To the fine citizens of Cherokee County, S.C.: It was with deep sadness that I visited your county on Sept. 18. That is of course the day we laid to rest Lance Corporal Christopher Fowlkes. It is never easy for any of us to attend the funeral of a fallen Marine. We are brothers, Marines for life. My purpose for this letter is to tell you how overtaken I was at the outpouring of love shown by the entire population during this time. I have never personally witnessed anything of this magnitude before. I am sure the Fowlkes family is so proud to be citizens of Cherokee County.
Thank you for being the true Americans that we all strive for. Your overwhelming response as patriots puts you high on a pedestal for me, and I shall always carry with me the images of that day. God bless you, and may God bless the United States of America. Dear Editor: I saw the body of Lance Corporal Chris Fowlkes ride by in a hearse on his way to the funeral home. He made the ultimate sacrifice for his country and the freedoms that he believed in. Only a few are willing to put their lives on the line for these freedoms. Chris was one of these few. I saw today the patriotism that I wish everyone in this country would have. The people of Gaffney came out to honor a fallen hero. I was there to honor this young man who paid the ultimate sacrifice to help defend this country and our freedom. He is a true hero as are all of those who still serve. They all make me proud for their service to our country. As a Vietnam era vet, I have seen patriotism at its worst. The day I came back from overseas, I was spit upon and called awful names. Today I was really proud to see the people of Gaffney come out to support the Fowlkes family and honor a fallen hero. It brought tears to my eyes to see you all and the patriotism that was displayed. May God be with the Fowlkes family during this trying time. My son is currently serving in the U.S. Navy and I can hardly imagine what you must be going through. Just know that Chris is with our Lord and one day will be reunited with his family.
My thoughts and prayers are with you. And may God Bless Gaffney, S.C. As a member of the Patriot Guard Riders, I recently had the honor and privilege of escorting the body of Lance Corporal Christopher Fowlkes on the last leg of its journey home. In this time of strife in our country, both external and internal, the citizens of Gaffney and Cherokee County laid whatever political, racial or ideological differences they may have aside and turned out en masse to honor this young fallen Marine. As a member of the procession, I saw it from beginning to end and it was not limited to the tremendous showing in downtown Gaffney. We had no sooner left the Greenville Spartanburg International Airport than the outpouring of support started showing. Hardly an overpass was unoccupied by people with American and Marine Corps flags. People on both sides of the interstate stopped their cars and trucks and got out and stood at attention, hands over hearts or in salute as we passed. Businesses emptied of employees and they stood along the fences to pay their respect to this one young fallen hero. I saw in the faces of your citizenry the pride, the pain, and the patriotism living within you. It may not seem like it now but the pain will pass and that will leave the great people of Gaffney and Cherokee county with pride and patriotism. When someone asks, where are you from? Hold your head up high, look them straight in the eye and say Gaffney, South Carolina.
It has been said that a country that forgets its heroes is itself doomed to be forgotten. After what I witnessed that day, I can tell you that being forgotten is NOT going to be the fate of this country. God bless you one and all. Dear Editor: As a member of the Patriot Guard Riders, this past Wednesday I had the honor of participating in the escort home for Lance Corporal Christopher Fowlkes. On Thursday I had the honor of standing guard outside the funeral home and on Friday I had the honor of escorting Lance Corporal Fowlkes to his final resting place. From the moment the procession left the airport Wednesday, there were folks lining the procession route. I observed traffic pulled to the side on I-85, factory workers lining up outside their buildings, two farmers on a tractor waving an American flag and countless ordinary civilians, firefighters and police officers lined up across just about every overpass along the route. While heading north on I-85, initially the left lane was open to traffic. However, shortly thereafter not a single vehicle utilized that lane. That interstate, and rightfully so, belonged to Lance Corporal Fowlkes and his family. At one point, even the lanes of the southbound traffic stood at a standstill. I must admit it was quite an emotional ride and I thought to myself, look at all of these good-hearted patriotic Americans saluting this American hero. I must admit, what I was not prepared for, was the reception given by the people of Gaffney. Once we arrived in Gaffney, I could not believe the number of folks who lined both sides of the street and I would swear that every last one of them was waving an American flag. It brought me back eight years ago to September 2001. My brother was a police officer who was killed on September 11th when the World Trade Center collapsed. I remember his funeral procession as if it happened yesterday. To see all these folks lining the streets had to be the greatest act of patriotism I have ever, ever seen. They have every right to be proud of themselves. On Friday we had the honor of escorting Lance Corporal Fowlkes to his final resting place. Once again, the people of Gaffney opened their hearts to this American hero and his family as they once again lined the streets along the procession route. My hat goes off to the people of Gaffney. You all are true American patriots. The motto of the Patriot Guard Riders is that we stand for those who stood for U.S. It was of the utmost honor to participate in the escort for this American hero, Lance Corporal Christopher Fowlkes.
May God hold Lance Corporal Fowlkes tightly in his arms, may God bless the Fowlkes family and may God bless the people of Gaffney. |
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