Final Salute: A Rocky Mountain News Special Report

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Lance Cpl. Kyle W. Burns


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2nd Lt. James Cathey


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_____Lance Cpl. Joseph T. Welke



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"I said, 'Do you want to hold (your son's uniform) for a little while?' And she said 'yes.'

"She was crying into it pretty good. And for me, that was kind of perfect. Because his combat uniform from Iraq has her tears in it.

"Her tears are in those threads. Forever."

--Maj. Steve Beck, after a ceremony honoring Lance Cpl. Joe Welke in South Dakota.


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written by Jim Sheeler

photography by Todd Heisler

following Maj. Steve Beck


Final Salute





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Click the rose to go to the flash slide shows of "Final Salute: A Rocky Mountain News Special Report" at Denver's Rocky Mountain News web site.

Click the casket below, to go to "Final Salute" the article.


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