I like posting these... well, as much as you can...
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/orl-locmemorialbus18051806may18,0,3944735.story?coll=orl-home-headlines
Bus honors military sacrifices
By Jay Hamburg
Sentinel Staff Writer
May 18, 2006
When Kenneth Conde Sr. saw the new Lynx bus designed to memorialize America's war dead, he read the large, brightly painted words: "They sacrificed for you."
But he walked up and gently touched four smaller words: "Sgt. Kenneth Conde Jr."
Conde Jr., a Colonial High graduate, was 23 when he died in 2004 while fighting as a Marine in Iraq. He had been wounded a few months earlier and could have opted to leave the war zone. But he chose to remain in harm's way.
Now he, along with 17 other members of the military from around the country, are memorialized on the Lynx bus -- the nation's only public transit bus dedicated to a Memorial Day theme.
"It's a small thing that we can do to let them know we won't forget them," Conde said at the bus-dedication ceremony Wednesday. "Until the day they box me up, I won't let anyone forget them or any of the fallen heroes."
That's the idea behind the bus, whose sides feature a somber rendering of a neatly folded U.S. flag being handed to a survivor. The message is meant to remind people of that continuing sacrifice and of this year's "National Moment of Remembrance" at 3 p.m. Memorial Day, May 29.
The bus will be in service along various routes throughout Orange, Seminole and Osceola counties during the next three years.
The service personnel it honors died fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan. In an effort to show the national sacrifice that cuts across many state and ethnic lines, the 18 names include some Central Floridians and people from other parts of the country, said Bill Fay, spokesman for Lynx.
Officials don't plan to add more names. The most updated death toll from the Department of Defense shows 2,446 military personnel have died in Iraq and 234 in Afghanistan.
At least 108 are from Florida and about two dozen from Central Florida.
If all goes well, the dramatically painted bus will travel to Washington, D.C., to take part in a Memorial Day parade at the invitation of the White House Commission on Remembrance.
Lynx is looking for sponsors to pay for the $3,800 cost of getting the bus to Washington. The agency has spent $7,500 of Lynx funds on the design and painting.
The idea for the bus arose at a national transportation conference when the Federal Transit Authority asked transit groups to find ways to promote the National Moment of Remembrance. Lynx stepped up.
Several officials spoke during Wednesday's dedication ceremony at Blue Jacket Park along General Rees Avenue at the site of the former Naval Training Center.
Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer said the bus underscores the importance of Memorial Day. "No other holidays would be possible without those who died for freedom since the founding of our nation."
Lynx chairman Atlee Mercer said, "This bus will remind people of an individual who valued life yet put themselves in the line of fire to protect the lives of millions of fellow Americans they will never know."
Sandy Bushue, deputy administrator of the Federal Transit Authority, said: "Let's take a moment to ask ourselves what freedom means to us. What does it cost?"
Conde Sr., a former Marine who served 15 years, said he hopes people who see the bus will pause to think about their freedom.
"Maybe somebody is having a terrible day at work and they'll pull up beside the bus and stop and think, 'Maybe I don't have it so bad.' "
The mother of Antoine Smith, a Dr. Phillips High graduate who died at age 22 fighting as a Marine in Iraq in 2004, echoed similar sentiments. Her son's name is also on the bus.
Deborah Smith said she was glad for anything that made it harder for people to forget her son.
"They are fallen warriors, but in God's eyes they are angels."
Rich McKay of the Sentinel staff contributed to this report. Jay Hamburg can be reached at jhamburg@orlandosentinel.com or 407-420-5673.
Bus honors military sacrifices
By Jay Hamburg
Sentinel Staff Writer
May 18, 2006
When Kenneth Conde Sr. saw the new Lynx bus designed to memorialize America's war dead, he read the large, brightly painted words: "They sacrificed for you."
But he walked up and gently touched four smaller words: "Sgt. Kenneth Conde Jr."
Conde Jr., a Colonial High graduate, was 23 when he died in 2004 while fighting as a Marine in Iraq. He had been wounded a few months earlier and could have opted to leave the war zone. But he chose to remain in harm's way.
Now he, along with 17 other members of the military from around the country, are memorialized on the Lynx bus -- the nation's only public transit bus dedicated to a Memorial Day theme.
"It's a small thing that we can do to let them know we won't forget them," Conde said at the bus-dedication ceremony Wednesday. "Until the day they box me up, I won't let anyone forget them or any of the fallen heroes."
That's the idea behind the bus, whose sides feature a somber rendering of a neatly folded U.S. flag being handed to a survivor. The message is meant to remind people of that continuing sacrifice and of this year's "National Moment of Remembrance" at 3 p.m. Memorial Day, May 29.
The bus will be in service along various routes throughout Orange, Seminole and Osceola counties during the next three years.
The service personnel it honors died fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan. In an effort to show the national sacrifice that cuts across many state and ethnic lines, the 18 names include some Central Floridians and people from other parts of the country, said Bill Fay, spokesman for Lynx.
Officials don't plan to add more names. The most updated death toll from the Department of Defense shows 2,446 military personnel have died in Iraq and 234 in Afghanistan.
At least 108 are from Florida and about two dozen from Central Florida.
If all goes well, the dramatically painted bus will travel to Washington, D.C., to take part in a Memorial Day parade at the invitation of the White House Commission on Remembrance.
Lynx is looking for sponsors to pay for the $3,800 cost of getting the bus to Washington. The agency has spent $7,500 of Lynx funds on the design and painting.
The idea for the bus arose at a national transportation conference when the Federal Transit Authority asked transit groups to find ways to promote the National Moment of Remembrance. Lynx stepped up.
Several officials spoke during Wednesday's dedication ceremony at Blue Jacket Park along General Rees Avenue at the site of the former Naval Training Center.
Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer said the bus underscores the importance of Memorial Day. "No other holidays would be possible without those who died for freedom since the founding of our nation."
Lynx chairman Atlee Mercer said, "This bus will remind people of an individual who valued life yet put themselves in the line of fire to protect the lives of millions of fellow Americans they will never know."
Sandy Bushue, deputy administrator of the Federal Transit Authority, said: "Let's take a moment to ask ourselves what freedom means to us. What does it cost?"
Conde Sr., a former Marine who served 15 years, said he hopes people who see the bus will pause to think about their freedom.
"Maybe somebody is having a terrible day at work and they'll pull up beside the bus and stop and think, 'Maybe I don't have it so bad.' "
The mother of Antoine Smith, a Dr. Phillips High graduate who died at age 22 fighting as a Marine in Iraq in 2004, echoed similar sentiments. Her son's name is also on the bus.
Deborah Smith said she was glad for anything that made it harder for people to forget her son.
"They are fallen warriors, but in God's eyes they are angels."
Rich McKay of the Sentinel staff contributed to this report. Jay Hamburg can be reached at jhamburg@orlandosentinel.com or 407-420-5673.