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MEMORIAL DAY SPECIAL IN LOYAL
Tuesday, June 1st, 2010 -- 12:33 pm
Posted by Riley Hebert-News Director
 The small town of Loyal turned out in a big way yesterday to pay tribute to those United States soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice to preserve our freedom.
Their community knows better than most how devastating that impact can be.
Two of their own were killed while serving their country in the Middle East. Staff SGT Todd Olson was killed near Samarra, Iraq in December of 2004. Joshua Schmitz of Loyal was killed in Al Anbar Province, Iraq in December of 2006.
Cpt (ret.) Peter Ashbeck of the Wisconsin Army National Guard told the gathering in the Loyal City Cemetery about how a critical base in Samarra came to be known as Patrol Base Olson, and presented Todd’s parents, Shirley and Don Olson, with a flag that flew over the base.
"On December 30, 2004, the U.S. Army named the casino Patrol Base Olson, in memory of Todd," Ashbeck explained. "Patrol Base Olson sat on the east bank of the Tigris River. From it's position, units were able to safeguard key positions in Samarra."
The base was "crucial" to training Iraqi forces. It was turned over to Iraqi force in June of 2009, he explained.
The keynote address was given by Clark County Veterans Service Officer Clint Langreck, who said Memorial Day should spent remembering not only the soldiers who gave the ultimate sacrifice, but those families and communities that were affected.
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