Dear Editor,

Regarding your article about Memorial Day event at Poole’s Bluff, the official name of the site at Poole’s Bluff is “The Cpl. Bear Stewart and Veterans’ Memorial.” Originally, it was “The Cpl. Bear Stewart Memorial.” Particularly on Memorial Day, it is hurtful to my family that Bear’s name was not mentioned in your article.

I have been to the event there in years past where Bear’s name was never mentioned during the ceremony, nor were the names of the other fallen heroes of Washington Parish mentioned. Honoring them and generations of others who died in combat is what Memorial Day is about. So many friends, family, The Poole’s Bluff Association, businesses and parish leaders worked very hard to create this loving tribute to our son and to the fallen.

The site has been expanded to include all veterans, living or deceased, who can be honored or remembered with an engraved brick. The monument has no political affiliation — all of us are Americans, all are welcome. Just please, say his name.

I am sure the other Gold Star families would appreciate that too.

Sincerely,

Sandra Stewart, Gold Star mother of Cpl. David “Bear” Stewart, U.S. Marine Corps, killed in action Aug. 3, 2005, in Haditha, Iraq