Two names added on memorial to local troops who have died

Eight years ago, the Benton County Veterans Memorial was unveiled at the National Guard Armory, celebrating those who fought in wars on behalf of this country. Whether they returned home safely or died in service, the memorial honors their sacrifice.

On Monday, local veteran and retired teacher Les Whittle introduced a new addition to the memorial that commemorates local troops killed in the war in Iraq.

Joseph Blickenstaff, a 23-year-old Army sergeant with local ties, who died Dec. 8, 2003, and Eric McKinley, a 24-year-old Army National Guard specialist, who died June 13, 2004, are now listed along with the names of 115 other veterans at the memorial.

“We have spaces for other names to be added, but we hope those spaces remain unused,” Whittle said.

Jerry Blickenstaff, Joseph’s father, and Karen Hilsendager, Eric’s mother, pulled back a black cloth draping the memorial to reveal their childrens’ names.

“These were our men killed in action in Iraq. It doesn’t get any closer to home than that,” said Mayor Helen Berg.

“We’re remembering and honoring the men and women who have given us everything they have, the veterans who have gone into harm’s way on our behalf and still bear the physical and psychological scars,” she said.

Several hundred people gathered at the armory to observe Memorial Day.

The program included musical performances by the Master’s Men, poetry readings and a table setting ceremony for Prisoners of War and Missing In Action persons. It also honored the men and women of the Oregon Army National Guard, 2nd Battalion, 162nd Infantry Bravo Company, who are leaving for Afghanistan.

Col. Douglas Cochran presented Portland woman Sharon Kinkade Medak with her brother’s MIA bracelet.

William Kinkade was last seen on Sept. 1, 1968, when his plane was reportedly hit by ground fire. At the time, he was 1st Lt. Kinkade and was flying an F-4D Phantom during a reconnaissance mission over north Vietnam and Laos.

Patsy Bellard, a Texas woman, bought Kinkade’s POW bracelet for $2 in 1971. She kept it on for 35 years, until she recently located Medak.

Bellard’s health didn’t allow her to be at Monday’s event, but Cochran presented the bracelet to Medak on Bellard’s behalf.

Sandy Habelt read about Kinkade’s story on the front page of Sunday’s Gazette-Times, and she came to the armory Monday to see Medak receive the bracelet.

“I thought it would be so awesome to see someone being presented that,” Habelt said.

She attended with her husband, Al, who served in the Army during the ’60s.

Dale Kirk has been coming to the Benton County Memorial Celebration for many years. He served in the Navy for two years during World War II.

“I come to recognize the service that’s been rendered by my fellow military people and others over the years. It’s a chance to reminisce and reinforce my patriotism.”

Ltc. Wiley Thompson recently returned from a year of Army service in Afghanistan.

Thompson, who is pursuing his doctorate in geosciences at Oregon State University, brought his wife and children to Monday’s celebration.

He said he wants his children to know that Memorial Day is more than barbeques and a break from school.

“I went to Afghanistan, and I came back, but a lot of people I went with did not. This is to honor those who couldn’t come back and the families who supported them,” Thompson said.