Our View: Remembering fallen soldiers one year later

Talk about it

One year ago this week a young man from this community was killed in Iraq while serving his country.

Daniel P. Drevnick died July 16, 2009 when the Army base he was working at in the southern province of Basra was attacked by indirect fire from insurgents. He was 22 years old.

Two of Drevnick’s fellow soldiers from the Stillwater-based 34th Military Police, Carlos Wilcox, 27, of Cottage Grove, and James Wertish, 20, Olivia, also died in the attack.

Just days after news of the soldiers’ deaths, several hundred supporters gathered at the Veterans Memorial in Stillwater for a silent vigil to honor the sacrifice made by the soldiers who drilled at the nearby Stillwater Armory and served in their unit with the Minnesota Army National Guards 34th Red Bull Infantry Division.

A year later many of those supporters are still remembering.

On Saturday, July 24 the Family Readiness Group for the 34th Military Police Company is hosting a “Ride to Remember” motorcycle ride and spaghetti dinner to raise funds for a scholarship in honor of Drevnick, Wilcox and Wertish.

The motorcycle ride begins at 2 p.m. at the Veterans Memorial in Stillwater. The dinner runs from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. The cost of the dinner is $10. A dance will follow the dinner.

Spending a sunny summer Saturday in downtown Stillwater is a pleasant thought all by itself. But to do so for a great cause makes an even better reason to attend the fundraiser event, which is being put on by family members of deployed soldiers.

If you can’t attend the fundraiser but want to show your support for the memory of two local soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice, please consider contacting the Stillwater Armory (651-297-4452) to find out how you can donate to the scholarship fund honoring Drevnick, Wilcox and Wertish.

We know the Family Readiness Group putting on this dinner will never forget the service of their soldiers. Finding a way to support the dinner and scholarship would show them that we won’t either.

Tags: daily updates, our view, opinion, editorial