Please take a moment to honor our heroes

A nation’s values are hollow unless its citizens honor and defend them. Americans’ right to disagree openly with their government (over such issues as war) has survived, thanks largely to those who serve in the nation’s armed forces, many giving their lives.

This Memorial Day, The Spokesman-Review editorial board pays tribute to the patriotic service members from Washington, Idaho and Montana who have made the ultimate sacrifice in Iraq.

Washington

Army 1st Lt. Michael R. Adams

24, Seattle

March 16, 2004, Asad

Army Spc. Robert T. Benson

20, Spokane

Nov. 4, 2003, Baghdad

Marines Staff Sgt. Marvin Best

33, Prosser

June 20, 2004, Anbar province

Marines Lance Cpl.

Cedric E. Bruns

22, Vancouver

May 9, 2003, Kuwait

Army Staff Sgt. Christopher Bunda

29, Bremer

Jan. 25, 2004, Mosul

Army Staff Sgt.

Michael L. Burbank

34, Bremerton

Oct. 11, 2004, Mosul

Marines Pfc. Cody S. Calavan

19, Lake Stevens

May 29, 2004, Anbar province

Army 2nd Lt. Benjamin J. Colgan

30, Kent

Nov. 1, 2003, Baghdad

Marines Sgt. Jason Cook

25, Okanogan

Aug. 21, 2004, Anbar province

Army Sgt. Jacob H. Demand

29, Palouse

Sept. 14, 2004, Mosul

Army Spc. Blain M. Ebert

22, Washtucna

Nov. 22, 2004, Baghdad

Army Sgt. Damien T. Ficek

26, Pullman

Dec. 30, 2004, Baghdad

Marines Lance Cpl.

Kane M. Funke

20, Vancouver

Aug. 13, 2004, Anbar province

Army Spc. Justin W. Hebert

20, Arlington

Aug. 1, 2003, Kirkuk

Army Spc. Jacob R. Herring

21, Kirkland

April 28, 2004, Tal Afar

Army Sgt. Curt E. Jordan Jr.

25, Greenacres

Dec. 28, 2003, Near Beiji

Army Spc. Duane E. Longstreth

19, Tacoma

Aug. 7, 2003, Baghdad

Marines Lance Cpl.

Caleb J. Powers

21, Manfield

Aug. 17, 2004, Anbar province

Marines Capt. Gregory A. Ratzlaff

36, Olympia

Aug. 3, 2004,

Forward Operating Base Duke

Marines Sgt. Yadir G. Reynoso

27, Wapato

Aug. 5, 2004, Naja

Marines Staff Sgt. David G. Ries

29, Vancouver

Nov. 8, 2004, Anbar province

Marines Cpl. Steven A. Rintamaki

21, Lynnwood

Sept. 16, 2004, Anbar province

Army Spc. Jonathan J. Santos

22, Bellingham

Oct. 15, 2004, Karabilah

Army Spc. Jeremiah W. Schmunk

21, Richland

July 8, 2004, Baghdad

Army Pfc. Kerry D. Scott

21, Mount Vernon

Oct. 6, 2003, Iskandariyah

Army Spc. Jeffrey R. Shaver

26, Maple Valley

May 12, 2004, Baghdad

Marines Lance Cpl.Dustin L. Sides

22, Yakima

May 31, 2004, Anbar province

Army Pfc. Andrew M. Ward

25, Kirkland

Dec. 5, 2004, Ramadi

Marines Lance Cpl.

Nathan R. Wood

19, Kirkland

Nov. 9, 2004, Anbar province

Army Pfc. Curtis L. Wooten III

20, Spanaway

Jan. 4, 2005, Balad

Idaho

Army Capt. Eric L. Allton

34, Boise

Sept. 26, 2004, Ramadi

Army Cpl. Richard P. Carl

26, King Hill

May. 9, 2003, Near Samarra

Army Sgt. Kelly S. Morris

24, Boise

March 30, 2005, Baghdad

Army Pfc. Jerrick M. Petty

25, Idaho Falls

Dec. 10, 2003, Mosul

Army Pfc. Cleston C. Raney

20, Rupert

March 31, 2004, Habbaniyah

Marines Pfc. Christopher J. Reed

20, Craigmont

July 10, 2004, Anbar province

Marines Maj. Alan Rowe

35, Hagerman

Sept. 3, 2004, Anbar province

Army Capt. James A. Shull

32, Kamiah

Nov. 17, 2003, Baghdad

Air Force Maj. Gregory Stone

40, Boise

March 25, 2003, Camp Pennsylvania, Kuwait

Army Spc. Brandon T. Titus

20, Boise

Aug. 17, 2004, Baghdad

Army 1st Lt. Luke C. Wullenwaber

24, Lewiston

Nov. 16, 2004, Khalidiyah

Montana

Army Staff Sgt.

Aaron N. Holleyman

26, Glasgow

Aug. 30, 2004, Khutayiah

Army Master Sgt.

Robbie D. McNary

42, Lewistown

March 31, 2005, Hawijah

Marines Cpl. Dean P. Pratt

22, Stevensville

Aug. 2, 2004, Anbar province

Army 1st Lt. Edward M. Saltz

27, Bigfork

Dec. 22, 2003, Baghdad

Marines Cpl. Raleigh C. Smith

21, Troy

Dec. 23, 2004, Anbar province

Army Pfc. Owen D. Witt

20, Sand Springs

May 24, 2004, Dawr