Tuesday, June 1, 2004
THE BATTALi
Veterans, families mark
Memorial Day in Texas
By T.A. Badger
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
SAN ANTONIO — On April 9, the
meaning of Memorial Day changed for
Toni Matula.
That day her 20-year-old son Matt,
a Marine corporal, was killed in a mor
tar attack while on duty in the Iraqi
city of Fallujah. He died just a few
weeks after being deployed to Iraq for
a second time.
“He was a fine young Marine,” said
Matula, who attended Monday’s annu
al Memorial Day ceremony at Fort
Sam Houston Military Cemetery with
her husband.
That ceremony was one of many held
across Texas to commemorate those
who died serving in America’s military.
Matula wore a white T-shirt bearing
her son’s portrait in his formal Marine
uniform and a verse from the Gospel
of St. John: “Greater love has no one
than this, that he lay down his life for
his friends.”
Despite their loss, the Matulas said
they still believe in the U.S. purpose
in Iraq.
“We’re proud (Matt) was a U.S.
Marine — he said they had a purpose
over there,” said Matula, who lives in
Spicewood, northwest of Austin. “He
said there was a lot of good being done,
you just don’t see it on the news.”
The large gathering at the Fort Sam
Houston Cemetery included veterans
going back to World War II, many
wearing vests bearing their ribbons
and medals.
With the nation’s eyes on the new
National World War II Memorial in
Washington, comparisons were made
between the soldiers serving in Iraq and
those who fought against tyranny six
decades ago.
“Today’s soldiers are just as deter
mined to defeat terrorism,” said retired
Air Force Master Sgt. Tom Nesbit, who
served as master of ceremonies.
Bill Lewis, a retired chemical sales
man, was part of the D-Day invasion on
June 6, 1944. His landing craft was
sunk by enemy fire and he had to swim
150 yards to Omaha Beach, which by
then was covered with the bodies of
Allied troops.
“There were dead and wounded
everywhere,” recalled Lewis, 83, who
grew up in Wichita Falls and now lives
in San Antonio. “It was awful.”
Lewis backs President Bush’s deci
sion to go to war in Afghanistan and
Iraq following the Sept. 11 terror attacks
and other incidents targeting Americans.
“They’re not going to quit it, so
somebody’s got to stop them,” he said.
Frank Stecklein, a World War II
prisoner of war who was held in Japan,
said too much is being made about
U.S. casualties in Iraq. More than 800
Americans have died there since
March 2003.
In memory
Mickey Mahle, Sergeant at Arms for the American Legion Post
159 ( hands out American Flags to three-year-old Emily M.
Velasquez during the dedication ceremony at the Veterans of
Foreign War Post #4692 Monday in Bryan in celebration of
Memorial Day Velasquez, in attendance with her mother, hasa
brother in Baghdad and another who died serving his country
NEWS IN BRIEF
Iraqis delay selection of
new government
BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) — Iraqi Governing
Council members accused American officials
Monday of pressuring them to accept
Washington’s choice for Iraq’s new president,
prompting a delay in the announcement of a new
government to take power from the U.S.-led
coalition June 30.
Monday was the deadline to name members
of the new Iraqi government, but a Governing
Council session that was to have chosen a pres
ident was postponed until at least Tuesday, with
sharp differences remaining between the coun
cil and the coalition over the largely ceremonial
head of state job.
Most council members favor civil engineer
Ghazi Mashal Ajil al-Yawer, 45, the current coun
cil president. The council members said
Americans are backing former foreign minister
Adnan Pachachi, 81. Both are Sunni Muslims.
Meanwhile, a car bomb exploded Monday
near coalition headquarters, killing four people
and wounding 25 in violence that U.S. authori
ties believe was aimed at blocking the coming
transfer of power. Four American soldiers were
reported killed in other attacks.
Saudi authorities hunt for
militants from rampage
KHOBAR, Saudi Arabia (AP) — Saudi
authorities hunted Monday for three suspected
al-Qaida militants who used hostages as human
shields to escape after a weekend assault on a
residential complex that killed 22 people, mostly
foreign oil industry workers.
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claim
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The attackers fled Khobar to nearwonfi
Dammam, where they abandoned their truck iljure
a car commandeered at gunpoint from a IT
unidentified driver and drove off with pota Cemii
pursuit, a police official said Monday. ciirrei
A fourth militant — described as the ringleas ; Ac
— was captured Sunday after helicopter-bo ment
Saudi commandos raided the upscale Oa;
compound, where the gunmen had taken doze
of foreigners hostage in a hotel a day earlier,
It was the worst terror attack on Saudi:
in a year and the second this month to taigKctir
its oil industry. di e |
ti ns
STUDENT REC CENTER Services
EED TO K
Break a Sweat with Rec Fitness
mrmM
SUMMER OUTDOOR ADVENTURE
BANQUET AND EVENT SERVICES—Have your next meet
ing, party or presentation at the Rec. Rec Sports now offers
banquet and event services for Texas A&M affiliated organ
izations and departments. For more info call 845-7826.
MASSAGE THERAPY—Give yourself the gift of relaxation
with a one hour Swedish Massage! Appointments are avail
able every day of the week during the academic semesters!
1 Let the Competition
Begin-IM Sports
The following IM sports OPEN for registration June 1st:
3-ON-3 Basketball
$1 5/team
Slow Pitch Softball
$4 5/team
Sand Volleyball
$25/team
Indoor Soccer
$2 5/team
Racquetball
FREE
Tennis
FREE
Drive On-Texas A&M Golf Course
room 304
room 303
room 134
• NEW Full Length Driving Range—Come by and enjoy the
full length driving range. Buy a bucket of balls and practice
your swing, or warm up before a round of 1 8 holes!
• Lessons with the Pro—On your own, with a partner or in a
group-the Golf Course Pro will get your game on track.
• Two For Tuesdays—Bring a friend and play for the price of
one! Must have a partner and only applies to green fees.
Open to the public! We are located on the south side of the A&M campus.
Call the Pro Shop at 845-1 723 & visit us online at http://recsports.tamu.edu.
SALE on Unlimited Passes—June 1-6 save $10 off the reg
ular Unlimited Pass for the entire summer of Rec Aerobics.
Summer 1 and Summer 2 Passes $25. Regular pass prices
resume on June 7.
FREE Introductory Instructional Classes
Wednesday, June 2
Pilates/Yoga 4:1 5-5:1 5 p.m.
Pilates 5:15-6:15 p.m.
Belly Dance 6:00-7:00 p.m.
Thursday, June 3
5:30-6:30 p.m.
5:30-6:30 p.m.
6:45-7:45 p.m.
• Personal Training—A personal trainer can be all you need
to assess your fitness goals, develop a workout plan,
instruct you and even workout with you. Call 862-3995 or
go to http://recsports.tamu.edu for info.
• Summer Instructional Classes—registration open at
Member Services NOW for:
Pilates/Yoga Pilates/Ball Pilates
Power Yoga Power Yoga for Athletes Yoga
Belly Dance Belly Dance Choreography Hip Hop
Power Yoga
Pilates/Ball
Raja Yoga
room 303
room 304
room 304
MAKE A SPLASH-
The following Outdoor activities OPEN for registration June
Date
Registration
Kerrville Folklife Festival
June 1 2
June
1
-9
Schlitterbahn WaterPark
June 1 9
June
1
-15
Bike Maintenance 101: Flats
June 22
June
1
-21
Rock Climbing Day Trip
June 26
June
1
-22
Canoe Day Trip
June 26
June
1
-22
Rock Climbing 101 Clinic
June 27
June
1
-23
Lead Climbing Clinic
June 29
June
1
-28
Rafting Day Trip
July 1 1
June
1
- July 8
Bike Maintenance 102:
Brakes/Shifters
July 13
June
1-
-July 12
Kerrville Folklife Festival—Kerrville offers music of many
styles including traditional folk, bluegrass, acoustic rock,
blues, country, jazz and Americana.
Schlitterbahn WaterPark—Known as America's #1 water
park, you can float over 3 miles of tubing adventures,
splash around in 7 themed activity pools, blast uphill on 3
water coasters, plummet down speed slides or when you're
ready to relax, drop into a giant hot tub or stretch out on
a sun lounger.
Program
Adult Learn to Swim
Adult Learn to Swim
Springboard Diving
Registration
NOW-June 6
NOW-July 11
NOW-July 11
Cost
$25/$35
$25/$35
$25/$35
Summer Rock Wall Orientation Classes—Begin June 1st at
the Rec Center for all climbers at the Rock Wall. Get certi
fied to climb throughout the summer by coming in
Monday-Thursday at 3:30 p.m. or 7:00 p.m. and Friday
at 3:30 p.m. recsports.tami/.edu
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