Page 6 - May 2017 BNP ALL
P. 6
Page 6 May 2017 The Catoctin Banner Newspaper www.TheCatoctinBanner.com Published by www.EPlusPromotes.com
A Bridge to Remember A Fallen Hero
James Rada, Jr.
November 29, 2004, was Army (above) Army Spec. Erik Hayes’ parents, Debora Reckley and Douglas Hayes, stand next to the smoking a cigarette out in the
Specialist Erik Hayes last day alive. bridge sign for the MD 140 bridge over the Monocacy River that was named in honor of their son. dessert.
He didn’t know it. The decorated
soldier had just turned twenty- (below) The VFW Color Guard prepares to retire the colors during the April 15 ceremony that His fellow soldiers also remember
four a couple of weeks earlier, and dedicated the MD 140 Monocacy River Bridge in honor of fallen Spec. Erik Hayes. him with love and respect.
was a young man with dreams. He
wanted to attend college and become have been named in honor of fallen Photos by James Rada, Jr. SSgt. Erik Pisauro of Charlotte,
a veterinarian; but most of all, he West Virginians. His son had asked North Carolina, first met Hayes
wanted to return home to his family. about the people named, which had escorted a procession of cars to the when he was eighteen and said that
led to him looking up information ceremony. Hayes watched out for him and
As he sat on the roof of an Iraqi about the serviceman. kept him from getting in too much
police station with Sgt. Daniel Hayes was born in Gettysburg, trouble. “He was a big brother to
Hopson, watching the streets, “I hope that every time someone Pennsylvania, but he grew up a lot of us younger guys,” Pisauro
Hopson posed a question. If Erik crosses that bridge, they will keep in in Thurmont and Harney. He said.
could go anywhere for a vacation, mind the sacrifice he [Hayes] made, graduated in 1998 from the Living
and money was no object, where and other young men and women are Word Academy in Blue Ridge Sgt. Tim Grossman of Lexington,
would he go? making for the freedom we have,” Summit, Pennsylvania. Before he had Kentucky, said, “Even though I
said Frederick County Commission joined the military, he had worked outranked him, I learned to listen
Hayes turned to his friend and President Bud Otis. at a dairy farm and trained to be an to what he said. He had a lot of
said, “All I want to do is go home electrician. wisdom for someone his age. When
and work three jobs and get my To date, 145 Marylanders have he spoke, you had to respect his
brother home healthcare and get him been killed in Operation Iraqi He had enlisted in the army in answers; he wasn’t rash in his
taken care of.” Freedom. 2001 to be able to use the GI Bill to thinking.”
get a college education when his duty
Bradley Hayes had been injured in Frederick County Councilman was complete. He had trained at Fort Grossman and others also noted
a car accident two years earlier when Kirby Delauter was the emcee Benning in Georgia, and served in that Hayes was generous to a fault.
he was only eighteen, and was being at the event. Also in attendance Germany, Bosnia, and Kosovo before “He would give you the last five
cared for in a Hagerstown facility. were Frederick County Executive being trained in Iraq. dollars he had until the next pay,”
Jan Gardner; Carroll County Grossman said.
Hopson, who has six sisters, was Commissioners Stephen Wantz, Hayes’ father, Daniel, said of his
moved by how much Hayes loved his Richard Weaver, and Dennis Frazier; son, “He was a good boy. He loved SSgt. Andre Topaum of Raleigh,
brother. “I need a brother like you,” Taneytown Mayor James McCarron; people. He loved animals.” North Carolina, first met Hayes
he told Hayes. and members of the local VFWs and when he was eighteen. One memory
American Legions. Patriot Guard Hayes was also an artist, drawing that continued to shape his career
Hayes looked at him with a Riders and Desert Knights also whenever inspiration hit him. His in the military was something that
bit of surprise and confusion in father remembers a drawing on Hayes said to him early on. “Dang
his expression. “Hopson, we are the cover of one his son’s army it, Topaum, pay attention and take
brothers, brothers in arms.” notebooks that showed a camel notes.” Topaum said it is something
that he still continues to try and do.
Later that night, Hopson was
with Hayes on the mortar tank that Hopson, who is from Oklahoma,
hit an improvised explosive device. arrived in Iraq as a sergeant and
Hayes died far from his home and didn’t have experience on mortar
became the sixth Marylander to die tanks where he was assigned. One
in Operation Iraqi Freedom. of the first things Hayes said to
him was, “I won’t ever let you get
On Saturday, April 15, 2017, embarrassed, Sergeant; if you don’t
Hopson, Hayes’ family, friends, know the answer to something, I’ll
politicians, and Veterans gathered tell you.”
near the Monocacy River to celebrate
Hayes’ life, remember his service, and Hayes has touched the lives of
honor his sacrifice. these men so deeply that they were
willing to travel hundreds of miles
More than one hundred sixteen years after his death just to
people were at the State Highway pay him one final honor.
Administration building, where
Maryland 140 crosses the Monocacy, “Just remember Erik’s name, and
to take part in the dedication of the he will become a legend forever,”
bridge sign for the nearby bridge in Hopson said.
honor of Hayes. The sign that would
be installed at the beginning of the
bridge was unveiled, and Hayes’
parents were given miniature versions
that they could keep with them.
Maryland State Delegate William
Folden, who is also a Veteran, said
getting the bill passed that allowed
the bridge to be named in Hayes’
honor was the first bill he had ever
introduced in the legislature. More
than a “feel good” bill, he expressed
that acts such as this mean something
to servicemen and their families. He
said the idea for the bill had been
inspired by a trip that he and his son
had taken to West Virginia, where
many bridges and other structures
A Bridge to Remember A Fallen Hero
James Rada, Jr.
November 29, 2004, was Army (above) Army Spec. Erik Hayes’ parents, Debora Reckley and Douglas Hayes, stand next to the smoking a cigarette out in the
Specialist Erik Hayes last day alive. bridge sign for the MD 140 bridge over the Monocacy River that was named in honor of their son. dessert.
He didn’t know it. The decorated
soldier had just turned twenty- (below) The VFW Color Guard prepares to retire the colors during the April 15 ceremony that His fellow soldiers also remember
four a couple of weeks earlier, and dedicated the MD 140 Monocacy River Bridge in honor of fallen Spec. Erik Hayes. him with love and respect.
was a young man with dreams. He
wanted to attend college and become have been named in honor of fallen Photos by James Rada, Jr. SSgt. Erik Pisauro of Charlotte,
a veterinarian; but most of all, he West Virginians. His son had asked North Carolina, first met Hayes
wanted to return home to his family. about the people named, which had escorted a procession of cars to the when he was eighteen and said that
led to him looking up information ceremony. Hayes watched out for him and
As he sat on the roof of an Iraqi about the serviceman. kept him from getting in too much
police station with Sgt. Daniel Hayes was born in Gettysburg, trouble. “He was a big brother to
Hopson, watching the streets, “I hope that every time someone Pennsylvania, but he grew up a lot of us younger guys,” Pisauro
Hopson posed a question. If Erik crosses that bridge, they will keep in in Thurmont and Harney. He said.
could go anywhere for a vacation, mind the sacrifice he [Hayes] made, graduated in 1998 from the Living
and money was no object, where and other young men and women are Word Academy in Blue Ridge Sgt. Tim Grossman of Lexington,
would he go? making for the freedom we have,” Summit, Pennsylvania. Before he had Kentucky, said, “Even though I
said Frederick County Commission joined the military, he had worked outranked him, I learned to listen
Hayes turned to his friend and President Bud Otis. at a dairy farm and trained to be an to what he said. He had a lot of
said, “All I want to do is go home electrician. wisdom for someone his age. When
and work three jobs and get my To date, 145 Marylanders have he spoke, you had to respect his
brother home healthcare and get him been killed in Operation Iraqi He had enlisted in the army in answers; he wasn’t rash in his
taken care of.” Freedom. 2001 to be able to use the GI Bill to thinking.”
get a college education when his duty
Bradley Hayes had been injured in Frederick County Councilman was complete. He had trained at Fort Grossman and others also noted
a car accident two years earlier when Kirby Delauter was the emcee Benning in Georgia, and served in that Hayes was generous to a fault.
he was only eighteen, and was being at the event. Also in attendance Germany, Bosnia, and Kosovo before “He would give you the last five
cared for in a Hagerstown facility. were Frederick County Executive being trained in Iraq. dollars he had until the next pay,”
Jan Gardner; Carroll County Grossman said.
Hopson, who has six sisters, was Commissioners Stephen Wantz, Hayes’ father, Daniel, said of his
moved by how much Hayes loved his Richard Weaver, and Dennis Frazier; son, “He was a good boy. He loved SSgt. Andre Topaum of Raleigh,
brother. “I need a brother like you,” Taneytown Mayor James McCarron; people. He loved animals.” North Carolina, first met Hayes
he told Hayes. and members of the local VFWs and when he was eighteen. One memory
American Legions. Patriot Guard Hayes was also an artist, drawing that continued to shape his career
Hayes looked at him with a Riders and Desert Knights also whenever inspiration hit him. His in the military was something that
bit of surprise and confusion in father remembers a drawing on Hayes said to him early on. “Dang
his expression. “Hopson, we are the cover of one his son’s army it, Topaum, pay attention and take
brothers, brothers in arms.” notebooks that showed a camel notes.” Topaum said it is something
that he still continues to try and do.
Later that night, Hopson was
with Hayes on the mortar tank that Hopson, who is from Oklahoma,
hit an improvised explosive device. arrived in Iraq as a sergeant and
Hayes died far from his home and didn’t have experience on mortar
became the sixth Marylander to die tanks where he was assigned. One
in Operation Iraqi Freedom. of the first things Hayes said to
him was, “I won’t ever let you get
On Saturday, April 15, 2017, embarrassed, Sergeant; if you don’t
Hopson, Hayes’ family, friends, know the answer to something, I’ll
politicians, and Veterans gathered tell you.”
near the Monocacy River to celebrate
Hayes’ life, remember his service, and Hayes has touched the lives of
honor his sacrifice. these men so deeply that they were
willing to travel hundreds of miles
More than one hundred sixteen years after his death just to
people were at the State Highway pay him one final honor.
Administration building, where
Maryland 140 crosses the Monocacy, “Just remember Erik’s name, and
to take part in the dedication of the he will become a legend forever,”
bridge sign for the nearby bridge in Hopson said.
honor of Hayes. The sign that would
be installed at the beginning of the
bridge was unveiled, and Hayes’
parents were given miniature versions
that they could keep with them.
Maryland State Delegate William
Folden, who is also a Veteran, said
getting the bill passed that allowed
the bridge to be named in Hayes’
honor was the first bill he had ever
introduced in the legislature. More
than a “feel good” bill, he expressed
that acts such as this mean something
to servicemen and their families. He
said the idea for the bill had been
inspired by a trip that he and his son
had taken to West Virginia, where
many bridges and other structures
