Column: Honoring the Sacrifice

Note: The following comes from an interview with Todd Blattel of Gordonville, Missouri, vice president of Heroes Way. These are his comments.

Heroes Way Inc. is a 501c3 organization that was founded after Staff Sergeant Brad Skelton of Gordonville, Missouri, was Killed in Action (KIA) on Feb. 6, 2008, in Baghdad, Iraq.

The organization was started because we were looking for a way to honor Brad’s sacrifice. Ross Gartman and then-state Senator Jason Crowell, both of Cape Girardeau, worked together to pass legislation to get highway signs put up for those killed in action in the war on terror, Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. The bill was signed into law by Governor Jay Nixon in 2009. Brad’s sign stands along I-55 at mile marker 96 in Cape Girardeau and was placed in 2010.

Ross Gartman and Todd Blattel kneel next to a highway sign commemorating Staff Sergeant Bradley Skelton of Gordonville, Missouri, who was killed in action (KIA) on Feb. 6, 2008, in Baghdad, Iraq.

Submitted photo

When Ross called me and asked for my help, I didn’t hesitate. We only knew each other through our mutual friend, Brad Skelton. Ross had served in the Guard, and I had known Brad since childhood and spent about 10 years serving with him on the Gordonville Fire Department.

Once we got started raising money for his sign, Gartman called me one night and said he wanted to start a non-profit to help Gold Star families across the state get signs for their loved ones. The legislation that was passed did not use taxpayer money to fund the signs and instead put the burden on the families. We simply couldn’t let that happen, and Heroes Way Inc. was born.

Since we started, we have grown to a board of seven members: Ross Gartman, president; Todd Blattel, vice-president; Tyson Shoemaker, treasurer; Veronica Dobbs, secretary; and additional board members Melanie Gutwein, Andrew James and Austin Calvert.

This truly is a team effort, and we have many people who volunteer anytime we ask. We currently have over two dozen signs up throughout the state and have several in various application stages.

The legislation was changed a few years ago to add soldiers from other conflicts. Only soldiers, marines, sailors and airmen killed in combat that are Missouri residents are eligible for the signs, which now cost approximately $3,300 for 20 years. Then they have to be renewed for another 20 years.

Heroes Way will be having its annual dinner auction Oct. 6., at Isle Casino in Cape, beginning at 5 p.m. Hope you all can come.