Military families remember lost loved ones

Beebe notes sacrifices made at home, on the battlefield

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/RICK MCFARLAND --05/26/14--  Legend Beck, 19, of Cabot, salutes as the National Anthem is played, while wearing the Calvary Hat of his half brother Cpl. Loren Miles Buffalo, 20, who was killed in the line of duty in Afghanistan on Mar. 9, 2011. Beck and their grandmother Judy Williams were attending a Memorial Day Ceremony at the Arkansas State Veterans' Cemetery in North Little Rock Monday.
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/RICK MCFARLAND --05/26/14-- Legend Beck, 19, of Cabot, salutes as the National Anthem is played, while wearing the Calvary Hat of his half brother Cpl. Loren Miles Buffalo, 20, who was killed in the line of duty in Afghanistan on Mar. 9, 2011. Beck and their grandmother Judy Williams were attending a Memorial Day Ceremony at the Arkansas State Veterans' Cemetery in North Little Rock Monday.

Tommy Williams couldn't bring himself to attend Monday's Memorial Day ceremony at the state Veterans Cemetery in North Little Rock.

His grandson, Cpl. Loren Miles Buffalo, is buried there. But all of Williams' fondest memories of Buffalo linger at the grandfather's Austin home, where a little boy once played in the mud, crawled out of windows and requested a Michael Jackson-themed birthday party when he turned 8 years old.

"Loren's not there," Williams told his wife, who planned to attend the ceremony. "He's at home."

So Judy Williams and her 19-year-old grandson, Legend Beck -- Loren's brother -- left Williams at home and went together to the cemetery, where they were escorted to two front-row seats.

Buffalo died at age 20 on March 9, 2011, just a few weeks before he was due to leave Kandahar, Afghanistan.

Once at home in Ward, he had planned to go roping with his grandfather and put on a show with his band. He had several new country songs to play -- songs that he wrote while in Afghanistan. He had spent his tour singing to the other soldiers, strumming his guitar for accompaniment.

Buffalo joined the Army in 2009 after graduating from Mountain Pine High School. He came from a family steeped in military tradition. His father served in the Arkansas National Guard, and a great-grandfather flew B-17 bombers during World War II. An uncle also enlisted in the armed forces.

Buffalo was assigned to the 1st Squadron, 75th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, Fort Campbell, Ky. He earned numerous medals, including a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star.

Buffalo died from wounds suffered when he stepped on an improvised explosive device -- known as an IED -- while on patrol, Beck said.

On Monday, Beck donned his brother's cowboy-style cavalry hat. His grandmother wore a brooch from which dog tags, a cameo photo of Buffalo and a small cross dangled.

Like Buffalo, Beck enlisted in the Army after graduating from high school.

But Beck and his grandmother were only one of many families who gathered at the cemetery Monday to remember the fallen.

Gov. Mike Beebe devoted much of his speech to military families, who he noted are often forced to make great sacrifices while their loved ones protect the United States.

The spouses of soldiers didn't necessarily choose military life, Beebe noted. And, unlike soldiers, family members aren't trained or prepared for what might happen on a battlefield. "But," Beebe added, "they soldier on."

Spotting Beck in the front row, Beebe addressed him. "I assume that's your daddy's hat," he said.

"My brother's," Beck replied.

Beebe scanned the crowd, pausing before he repeated Beck's words so all could hear: "He's wearing his brother's hat."

"Your loved ones would be proud of you," the governor assured Beck and all the other families who had lost loved ones to war.

"They'd be proud of you," Beebe repeated. "Just as I am."

State Desk on 05/27/2014

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