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Mother to make somber journey

May-19-2006 » Filed Under: 3/2 SBCT

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Bethlehem resident the Rev. Charlene Robbins, the mother of Iraq war casualty Army Sgt. Thomas Robbins, will be among people from across America who will gather this weekend in Washington to remember those military personnel who have made the ultimate sacrifice.

More than 3,000 family members of American soldiers killed in Afghanistan and Iraq will be joined by descendants of American heroes from every war dating back to 1776 for "A Time of Remembrance" -- to be held at noon on Sunday the National Mall, Washington Monument Grounds.

The first-of-its-kind event was organized by the White House Commission on Remembrance, which was created by Congress in 2000 to raise awareness about America's fallen troops and those they left behind.

A key element will be the presentation of the specially created Gold Medal of Remembrance to children of military men and women killed in action in Afghanistan and Iraq. The medals will be presented by Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and R. James "Jim" Nicholson, secretary of Veterans Affairs.

"This tribute is intended to show families that their fellow Americans care about their loss," said Carmella LaSpada, commission director. [...]

Sgt. Robbins, 27, a 1994 graduate of Bethlehem High School, was killed when explosives accidentally detonated while being moved to a demolition point in Sinjar, Iraq, on Feb. 9, 2004.

The same explosion that killed Robbins, who grew up in Delmar, also killed one other soldier and wounded five more in the Mosul region of Iraq. Robbins was a cavalry scout with the Stryker Brigade's 1st Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment based at Fort Lewis, Wash. Robbins was married.


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