Lawmakers, governor honor fallen heroes

SALT LAKE CITY — In celebration of the lives they lived and in somber tribute to the way they died, five fallen servicemen were honored at the state Capitol Thursday in an emotional event that had most lawmakers wiping tears from their eyes.

"I told the families of these men that they all had their turn to cry, and now it's mine," said Sen. Allen Christensen, R-North Ogden, who had to pause several times and choke back emotion as he read the names of the fallen.

"I hope we never, ever, take for granted their sacrifice," Christensen told his colleagues as family members were honored on the floor of the Senate.

A citation in recognition of the Utah lives lost in 2009 was read in both chambers of the Legislature to honor:

Cpl. Michael B. Alleman, 31, who died Feb. 23 in Balad, Iraq, in an ambush.

Staff Sgt. Kurt Curtiss, 27, who died Aug. 25 while clearing a hospital of insurgents in Afghanistan.

Army Capt. Cory Jenkins, 30, who died Aug. 28 in Afghanistan after the vehicle he was riding in hit an improvised explosive device.

Pfc. Kimble A. Han, 30, who died Oct. 23 after his vehicle was struck by an improvised explosive device in Afghanistan.

Pfc. Aaron Nemelka, 19, who died Nov. 5 at Fort Hood, Texas, in a mass shooting.

The families earlier met with Gov. Gary Herbert in private. After the Senate ceremony, they were honored in the House, where Rep. Kerry Gibson, R-Ogden, gave an impassioned speech that touched on sacred duty and sacred honor evidenced by lives given that had barely begun.

"Some truly gave all," Gibson told a hushed crowd of lawmakers and spectators in the gallery above.

Gibson, in his remarks, singled out the mothers of "Utah's own five," describing them as sons of liberty who have left a legacy of courage.

"Today, they are not only your sons, they are Utah's five sons. They are our sons."

Because some of the family members live out of state, as far away as Las Vegas and Mesa, Ariz., lawmakers pitched in to pay for their travel.

Jeanne Jenkins, the mother of Cory Jenkins, traveled from Arizona for the ceremony, which she said was heartfelt and touching.

"It brings it all back, because I guess you never get over it," she said, "but he brought us a lot of joy. I thought it was wonderful (the lawmakers and governor) would recognize what these men went through."

Lisa Barnes, the mother of Kimble Han, said it was a humbling experience for her, something that reinforced her opinion that Utah is a "great" state for patriotism.

"When they talked about these men being Utah's own five," she said, starting to tear up, "I think they truly meant it."

e-mail: amyjoi@desnews.com