VOA标准英语2011--Iraq War Casualties Remembered at Illinois Memorial

Iraq War Casualties Remembered at Illinois Memorial

The legacy¹ of the war in Iraq, one of the longest conflicts fought by the U.S. military, has yet to be measured. The cost of that war is visible at a memorial in the midwestern state of Illinois.

To say that retired² laborer³ Mike Farrare is patriotic⁴ is somewhat of an understatement. His nickname, after all, is inspired by the war-fighting movie character Rambo.

“One guy told me if they cut me I’d bleed red, white and blue - it’s just the way I am," said the memorial volunteer. "It’s a name I’ve had for about 20 years now. Most people don’t know my real name. They just call me Rambo.”

Volunteering for his country

In the wake of the terrorist attacks on the United States in 2001, Farrare wanted to contribute in some way to the fight against terrorism. Then, in 2003, he heard volunteers were building a memorial near his home in Illinois that would honor U.S. military personnel who died in the Middle East.

“I came over to volunteer because it was my way of fighting terror because I was too old to go into the military at that time,” he said.

Farrare helped build what is now one of the most extensive memorials honoring those who died in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The Middle East Conflicts Wall Memorial in Marseilles, Illinois lists the names of more than 6,000 men and women who served in the Middle East since 1979, and died in the line of duty.

Paying the ultimate price

More than three-fourths of the names are casualties of the nine-year-long Iraq war.

“Rule number one of war is that young men die, and there is no way to change that rule,” said Farrare.

It is a rule that Farrare's son, Matt, knows well. He served two tours in Iraq with the U.S. Army, including a stint⁵ in Baghdad in 2006 at the height of a bloody⁶ insurgency⁷. Now, when he visits the memorial, three names on the wall have special meaning.

“Caleb Lufkin, Gavin Reinke, Bryan Quinton. We were all in the same platoon,” said Matt.

All three of Farrare’s close friends died from wounds they sustained in a bomb blast while on patrol in Baghdad.

Honoring those who served

Despite the loss, Matt Farrare says he has no regrets about his service in Iraq.

“There’s not a part of me that asks was it worth it, because I know in my mind and in my heart that when I went in, I did it of my own free will," he said. “Do I think that it’s a good thing we are out of there? Absolutely. Did it take too long? Definitely. Is anybody to blame for it? Not at all.”

Though the Iraq War is over, Mike Farrare says some battles continue for his son.

“He’ll live with the mental anguish⁸ of losing his friends and fellow soldiers for the rest of his life,” he said.

But Matt Farrare has his father, also a veteran, and a community around him that are committed to helping⁹ heal his war wounds - both visible and hidden - while remembering those soldiers whose names are listed on this riverside memorial.

1 legacy   

n.遗产，遗赠；先人(或过去)留下的东西

参考例句：

• They are the most precious cultural legacy our forefathers left.它们是我们祖先留下来的最宝贵的文化遗产。
• He thinks the legacy is a gift from the Gods.他认为这笔遗产是天赐之物。

2 retired   

adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的

参考例句：

• The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
• Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。

3 laborer   

n.劳动者，劳工

参考例句：

• Her husband had been a farm laborer.她丈夫以前是个农场雇工。
• He worked as a casual laborer and did not earn much.他当临时工，没有赚多少钱。

4 patriotic   

adj.爱国的，有爱国心的

参考例句：

• His speech was full of patriotic sentiments.他的演说充满了爱国之情。
• The old man is a patriotic overseas Chinese.这位老人是一位爱国华侨。

5 stint   

v.节省，限制，停止；n.舍不得化，节约，限制；连续不断的一段时间从事某件事

参考例句：

• He lavished money on his children without stint.他在孩子们身上花钱毫不吝惜。
• We hope that you will not stint your criticism.我们希望您不吝指教。

6 bloody   

adj.非常的的；流血的；残忍的；adv.很；vt.血染

参考例句：

• He got a bloody nose in the fight.他在打斗中被打得鼻子流血。
• He is a bloody fool.他是一个十足的笨蛋。

7 insurgency   

n.起义；暴动；叛变

参考例句：

• And as in China, unrest and even insurgency are widespread. 而在中国，动乱甚至暴乱都普遍存在。 来自互联网
• Dr Zyphur is part an insurgency against this idea. 塞弗博士是这一观点逆流的一部分。 来自互联网

8 anguish   

n.(尤指心灵上的)极度痛苦，烦恼

参考例句：

• She cried out for anguish at parting.分手时，她由于痛苦而失声大哭。
• The unspeakable anguish wrung his heart.难言的痛苦折磨着他的心。

9 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。