but dont think i am gonna now start voting like you

here is another hero



Dennis J Flanagan


INVERNESS - Army Sgt. Dennis J. Flanagan, 22, of Citrus County died Friday in Iraq when an improvised explosive device detonated while he was patrolling in the city of Al Hawijah, the Department of Defense announced this afternoon.



Flanagan graduated from Lecanto High School in 2001 and was planning to attend Florida State University. But the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks caused him to enlist in the Army, his family said.

On Monday, an American flag flew at half-mast in the front yard of the family's home in rural Citrus.

Army officials told the grieving family that their son was on patrol when the bomb went off as they passed by around 10:30 a.m. Friday. Three other soldiers were also killed, and the driver survived and is in a hospital, they said. They were told that Sgt. Flanagan was wearing full body armor and the Humvee he rode in was also heavily armored, but the bomb was just too powerful.

"We last heard from him around the first of the year, although he tried to call us last week but we weren't home," said his mother, Patricia Flanagan.

Flanagan was an active student at Lecanto High, where he ran cross country for four years, his parents said. He also made the varsity soccer squad and was cadet commander of the Civil Air Patrol squadron of the school.

In the Army, Sgt. Flanagan was assigned to the 101st Airborne. His parents said he was part of the initial assault of Iraq. He went back for his second tour of combat duty in September, they said.