Sapulpa Remembers Fallen Soldier With Celebration

Dozens of Oklahoma Soldiers have paid the ultimate price in Iraq. The News On 6â€™s Joshua Brakhage reports one town is making sure that sacrifice isn't forgotten.<br/><br/>One year ago this week,

Saturday, April 28th 2007, 4:51 pm

By: News On 6

Dozens of Oklahoma Soldiers have paid the ultimate price in Iraq. The News On 6â€™s Joshua Brakhage reports one town is making sure that sacrifice isn't forgotten.

One year ago this week, Army Specialist Bryan Quinton was killed by a roadside bomb in Baghdad. He left behind a wife and a little girl, changed forever. On Saturday his hometown tried to make sure other youngsters never forget her daddy's sacrifice.

It was a patriotic parade with all the sights and sounds you'd expect. While the marching band played dozens of young Marines marched in their fatigues, and the next generation of Blue Star Mothers held down the fort on their float.

"I think at an early age, they really need to learn about the world and the situation in it, especially the younger boys," said parade watcher and mother Elva Fargo.

Elva Fargo says it's important for her kids, little Tanner and Brenan, to get a taste of patriotism.

"I liked when they played the band," 6-year-old Brenan Gibbs said. "That's my favorite!"

It may be hard to verbalize, but 6-year-old Brenan knows what Saturdayâ€™s parade is really about.

"This is a flag and it's my favorite flag," he said. "Cause it's the American flag."

"He's studying history in school right now so this tied in with that," said Fargo.

But it wasn't just the younger crowd remembering the service of today's soldiers. Members of a generation familiar with sacrifice also paid their respects.

"So thankful for all the men who fought for us and are fighting today and I pray that it soon ends," parade participant Elsie Stiger said.
Elsie Stiger, the VFW, and the DAV represented the sacrifice of servicemen past. Like a flag from Uncle Sam himself, they hope the parade passes patriotism on to America's future.

Specialist Quinton was a gunner, but was also in charge of finding and detonating IED's. Sadly, it was an IED that took his life.

Watch the video: Small Town Honors Soldier's Sacrifice

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