Don't forget, their families ask.

Don't forget Cpl. Keith Nepsa's crazy hairstyles and cravings for hot wings, or Sgt. Jeremy Barnett's love of the outdoors, hunting and fishing, or Sgt. Cory Endlich's helpful, sensitive and giving nature.

And don't forget that these young men - like generations of those who came before them - laid down their lives, sacrificing their futures, hopes and dreams in service to their country.

As today's Memorial Day ceremonies approached, area families who lost loved ones in the line of duty in Iraq reflected on their losses.

"Sometimes it seems like it was a long time ago, and others it was just as fresh as when I first saw his face (in the hospital)," said Jeremy's mother, Michele Barnett of Hartville.

Jeremy, 27, who had attended Sandy Valley High until his junior year, died Feb. 24, 2007, in a German military hospital after suffering injuries from a roadside bomb. He was on a patrol duty he volunteered for on his day off.

Michele said it took time for her to realize that her son died doing something in which he took such pride, and she comforts herself with that knowledge. A nurse, Michele also spoke through tears about her son's decision to be an organ donor.

"He gave his heart for his country, and then he gave his heart to another human," she said. "I don't know how you could do more than that."

Michele said she was angry when she heard from other families who had lost loved ones in the Armed Forces that her pain wouldn't get better, it would just get different, but she's found it to be true.

"The finality of driving away from that cemetery and knowing that my baby was gonna go in that hole in the ground - that was the hardest thing," she said, her voice choked with emotion.

Since then, the support of others, including groups like the Gold Star Families and Soldiers Angels, have helped to buoy her spirits. She's kept every card and letter she received, and she took a secluded vacation during which she wore her son's dog tags and took time alone to reflect.

That reflection will be resumed today, when Michele plans to go to Jeremy's grave and spend the day with family.

She said she wants people to know "there's a cost for what they have and to drive their car and live in their home and live their life. ... There's a terrible cost."

Jeremy's father, Dave Barnett of Mineral City, has organized a memorial flower garden at the village's veterans' monument and planted one in his front yard. He said he still receives messages of support, and the members of Jeremy's unit call all the time.

"It helps a lot, because not only was he part of this family, he had a family at Fort Hood," Dave said.

He said because he was used to Jeremy being away from home with his unit, it took longer for the reality of his death to set in - to realize he wasn't just away, but that he was gone and wouldn't be sending another e-mail or calling home.

Memorial Day means more now, Dave said.

"These guys gave their lives for us, and it's something you don't think about until it hits your family," he said. "They made the ultimate sacrifice ... and I don't want people to forget what they sacrificed and what they did."

Laura Nepsa, 19, of New Philadelphia remembers her brother Keith as funny, outgoing and a little wacky.

Keith, 21, a New Philadelphia High graduate, died June 2 when a roadside bomb struck his vehicle near Qayyarah, Iraq. It was his second tour of duty.

Almost a year later, Laura said she's doing OK.

"Sometimes I have good days, and sometimes I have bad days," she said, but her family keeps Keith's memory alive by talking about him and taking trips to the Texas Roadhouse Restaurant at New Philadelphia, where Keith worked and where he loved to eat hot wings.

Laura said her family plans to take part in today's Memorial Day parade at New Philadelphia, in which a Camaro restored by her brother's friends in his honor will appear. In addition to Laura, he had resided with his mother, Michele Nepsa, a brother, Joshua, and maternal grandmother, Charlene Snyder.

A 24-year veteran of the Army and Army Reserves, Randy Endlich of Massillon plans to visit the grave of his son, Cory, today. He has relatives in the Stone Creek area.
Cory, 23, died June 9 - two months to the day after his arrival in Iraq - while on a scouting patrol northwest of Baghdad. He was a member of Stryker Brigade and had been stationed at Fort Lewis, Wash.

"It's just - take a day at a time, and that's all you can do," Randy said, adding that he and his wife, Catherine, have received a lot of support from neighbors, friends and family.

The couple have established a scholarship in Cory's name at Massillon's Washington High, where he went to school. They also participated in a May 19 wreath-laying ceremony at Columbus with Gov. Ted Strickland and were presented with a flag flown over the Statehouse.

Randy said it doesn't hurt when people talk to him about his son or when Cory's friends stop by to chat, rather it brings up good memories for him and his wife.

"We talk about Cory, what he did, what he was like ... all the time," Randy said. "He's still a part of our life and always will be."

Randy said he doesn't expect this year's Memorial Day - the first since Cory's death - to be different from any other year.

"It's just that I have someone a lot closer that probably takes up more of my thoughts and feelings than the rest that have paid the same price in past times," he said. "I can feel for them, but not the same way I do for Cory."

Cpl. Zachary Grass' parents, Frank and Patti Grass of Sugar Creek Township in Stark County, asked not to be interviewed. Zach, 22, a 2003 graduate of Fairless High, was killed June 16 by a roadside bomb while on duty in Iraq. Patti is to participate in a Gold Star Mothers parade today at 10 at Beach City.

Richard D. Hardy of Dennison, the father of Army Spc. Richard A. Hardy, 24, couldn't be reached for this story. The younger Richard, a former Bolivar resident, was killed Oct. 15, 2005, with four comrades in a roadside bombing in Ramadi, Iraq, while on his second tour of duty.