Tributes

In the Line of DUTY

Four hundred and fifty-seven U.S. soldiers have died since the war in Iraq started on March 19. They were dads and moms, sons and daughters; they had plans for the future, a favorite song, a laugh all their own. Here, in the order of their passing, are their names and faces

Jay T. Aubin, 36

Waterville, Maine

Ryan A. Beaupre, 30

Bloomington, Ill.

Brian M. Kennedy, 25

Houston, Texas

Kendall Waters-Bey, 29

Baltimore, Md.

Therrel Childers, 30

Harrison County, Miss.

Jose Gutierrez, 22

Los Angeies, Calif.

Brandon S. Tobler, 19

Portland, Ore.

Christopher Seifert, 27

Morrisville, Pa.

Nicholas Hodson, 22

Smithville, Mo.

Eric Orlowski, 25

Buffalo, N.Y.

Edward Anguiano, 24

Brownsville, Texas

James M. Kiehl, 22

Comfort, Texas

Michael J. Williams, 31

Yuma, Ariz.

Jorge Gonzalez, 20

El Monte, Calif.

Jose A. Garibay, 21

Costa Mesa, Calif.

Randal Rosacker, 21

San Diego, Calif.

Michael E. Bitz, 31

Oxnard, Calif.

Thomas Slocum, 22

Thornton, Colo.

K. Ahn Chanawongse, 22

Waterford, Conn.

Brian Buesing, 20

Cedar Key, Fla.

Evan, T. James, 20

La Harpe, Ill.

Bradley Korthaus, 28

Scott, Iowa

Thomas A. Blair, 24

Broken Arrow, Okla.

Gregory Stone, 40

Boise, Idaho

Patrick O’Day, 20

Santa Rosa, Calif.

Francisco A. Martinez Flores, 21,

Los Angeles, Calif.

Donald May Jr., 31

Richmond, Va.

Michael Johnson Jr., 25

Little Rock, Ark.

Kevin G. Nave, 36

Union Lake, Mich.

Joseph Menusa, 33

San Jose, Calif.

Brian D. McGinnis, 23

St. George, Del.

Aaron Contreras, 31

Sherwood, Ore.

Michael Lalush, 23

Troutville, Va.

Brandon Rowe, 20

Roscoe, Ill.

William Jeffries, 39

Evansville, Ind.

Jacob L. Butler, 24

Wellsville, Kans.

Joseph Maglione, 22

Lansdale, Pa.

Eric A. Smith, 41

California

Michael Pedersen, 26

Flint, Mich.

Mathew Boule, 22

Dracut, Mass.

Ryan P. Long, 21

Seaford, Del.

Edward J. Korn, 31

Savannah, Ga.

Todd Robbins, 33

Pentwater, Mich.

Donald Oaks Jr., 20

Erie, Pa.

Nino D. Livaudais, 23

Utah

Mark A. Evnin, 21

Burlington, Vt.

Chad E. Bales, 21

Coahoma, Texas

Devon D. Jones, 19

San Diego, Calif.

Paul R. Smith, 33

Tampa, Fla.

Wilfred Bellard, 20

Lake Charles, La.

Edward Smith, 38

Chicago, Ill.

Kelley S. Prewitt, 24

Alabama

Gregory Huxley Jr., 19

Forestport, N.Y.

Eric B. Das, 30

Amarillo, Texas

William Watkins III, 37

Danville, Va.

Lincoln Hollinsaid, 27

Malden, Ill.

George Mitchell, 35

Rawlings, Md.

Anthony Miller, 19

San Antonio, Texas

Jeffrey J. Kaylor, 24

Clifton, Va.

Andrew J. Aviles, 18

Palm Beach, Fla.

David Owens Jr., 20

Winchester, Va.

Jesus Gonzalez, 22

Indio, Calif.

Gil Mercado, 25

Paterson, N.J.

John E. Brown, 21

Troy, Ala.

Richard Goward, 32

Midland, Mich.

Thomas Foley III, 23

Dresden, Tenn.

Joseph P. Mayek, 20

Rock Springs, Wyo.

Jason D. Mileo, 20

Centreville, Md.

Armando Gonzalez, 25

Hialeah, Fla.

John T. Rivero, 23

Tampa, Fla.

Jason L. Deibler, 20

Coeburn, Va.

Marlin Rockhold, 23

Hamilton, Ohio

Richard P. Carl, 26

King Hill, Idaho

Brian Van Dusen, 39

Columbus, Ohio

Hans Gukeisen, 31

Lead, S.Dak.

Cedric E. Bruns, 22

Vancouver, Wash.

Matthew Smith, 20

Anderson, Ind.

Jose Rodriguez, 19

Norwalk, Calif.

Jakub Kowalik, 21

Schaumburg, Ill.

Patrick Griffin Jr., 31

Elgin, S.C.

Thomas Adams, 27

La Mesa, Calif.

Lorl A. Plestewa, 23

Tuba City, Ariz.

Howard Johnson II, 21

Mobile, Ala.

Jamaal Addison, 22

Roswell, Ga.

Donald Walters,33

Kansas City, Mo.

Robert J. Dowdy, 38

Cleveland, Ohio

Brandon Sloan, 19

Warrensville Heights, Ohio

George Buggs, 31

Barnwell, S.C.

Johnny V. Mata, 35

El Paso, Texas

Ruben Estrella-Soto, 18

El Paso, Texas

David K. Fribley, 26

Cape Coral, Fla.

Jonathan Gifford, 30

Macon, Ill.

Tamario Burkett, 21

Buffalo, N.Y.

Frederick Pokorney Jr., 31

Tonopah, Nev.

Donald Cllne Jr., 21

Sparks, Nev.

Nolen Hutchings, 19

Boiling Springs, S.C.

Patrick R. Nixon, 21

Nashville, Tenn.

Phillip A. Jordan, 42

Brazoria, Texas

Brendon C. RelSS, 23

Casper. Wyo.

Gregory Sanders, 19

Hobart, Ind.

Jesus Suarez Del Solar, 20,

Escondido, Calif.

Roderic Solomon, 32

Fayetteville, N.C.

Fernando Padilla-Ramirea, 26,

San Luis, Ariz.

Robert Rodriguez, 21

Queens, N.Y.

Michael Weldon, 20

Palm Bay, Fla.

Diego F. Rincon, 9

Conyers, Ga.

Michael E. Curtin, 23

Howell, N.J.

Eugene Williams, 24

Highland, N.Y.

James W. Cawley, 41

Roy, Utah

William W. White, 24

Brooklyn, N.Y.

George Fernandez, 36

El Paso, Texas

Scott Jamar, 32

Granbury, Texas

James Adamouskl, 29

Springfield, Va.

Erik Halvorsen, 40

Bennington, Vt.

Brian E. Anderson, 26

Durham, N.C.

Christian Gurtner, 19

Ohio City, Ohio

Nathan D. White, 30

Mesa, Ariz.

Wilbert Davis, 40

Alaska

Russell Rippetoe, 27

Colorado

Randall S. Rehn, 36

Longmont, Colo.

Daniel Cunningham, 33

Lewiston, Maine

Tristan N. Aitken, 31

state College, Pa.

Erik H. Silva, 22

Chula Vista, Calif.

Duane R. Rios, 25

Hammond, Ind.

Brian McPhillips. 25

Pembroke, Mass.

Benjamin Sammis, 29

Rehobeth, Mass.

Bernard Gooden, 22

Mt. Vernon, N.Y.

Travis A. Ford, 30

Ogallala, Neb.

Larry K. Brown, 22

Jackson, Miss.

Stevon A. Booker, 34

Apollo, Pa.

Jesus Medellin, 21

Fort Worth, Texas

Scott D. Sather, 29

Clio, Mich.

Henry L. Brown, 22

Natchez, Miss.

John W. Marshall, 50

Los Angeles, Calif.

Jason M. Meyer, 23

Swartz Creek, Mich.

Robert A. Stever, 36

Pendleton, Ore.

Juan G. Garza Jr., 20

Temperance, Mich.

Terry Hemingway, 39

Willingboro, N.J.

Jeffrey Bohr Jr., 39

Ossian, Iowa

Rlayan A. Tejeda, 26

New York, N.Y.

Roy R. Buckley, 24

Merrilliville, Ind.

Robert Channell Jr., 36

Tuscaloosa, Ala.

Alan D. Lam, 19

Snow Camp, N.C.

Andrew T. Arnold, 30

Spring, Texas

Troy D. Jenkins, 25

Ridgecrest, Calif.

Osbaldo Orozco, 26

Delano, Calif.

Narson Sullivan, 21

North Brunswick, M.J.

Joe Garza, 43,

Robstown, Texas

Jesse A. Givens, 34

Springfield, Mo.

Sean C. Reynolds, 25

East Lansing, Mich.

Nicholas Kleiboeker, 19

Irvington, Ill.

David T. Nutt, 32

Blackshear, Ga.

William L. Payne, 46

Michigan

Rasheed Sahib, 22

Brooklyn, N.Y.

Douglas Marencoreyes , 28

Chino, Calif.

Dominic Baragona, 42

Ohio

Andrew LaMont, 31

Eureka, Calif.

Jason W. Moore, 21

San Marcos, Calif.

Timothy L. Ryan, 30

Aurora, Ill.

Aaron D. White, 27

Shawnee, Okla.

Kirk A. Straseski, 23

Beaver Damh, Wis.

Nathaniel Caldwell, 27

Omaha, Neb.

Daid Evans Jr., 18

Buffalo, N.Y.

Jeremiah Smith, 25

Odessa, Mo.

Mathew Schram, 36

Sister Bay, Wis.

Keman Mitchell, 24

Hilliard, Fla.

Kenneth A. Nalley, 19

Hamburg, Iowa

Brett J. Petriken, 30

Michigan

Thomas Broomhead, 34

Cañon City, Colo.

Michael Quinn, 37

Tampa, Fla.

Jesse M. Halling, 19

Indianapolis, Ind.

Michael Dooley, 23

Pulaski, va.

Gavin Neighbor, 20

Somerset, Ohio

John Klinesmith Jr., 25

Stockbridge, Ga.

Andrew Pokorny, 30

Naperville, Ill.

Ryan R. Cox, 19

Derby, Kans.

Shawn Pahnke, 25

Shelbyville, lnd.

Joseph D. Suell, 24

Lufkin, Texas

Robert L. Frantz, 19

San Antonio, Texas

Michael L. Tosto, 24

Apex, N.C.

Corey A. Hubbell, 20

Urbana, Ill.

Joshua Mcintosh, 22

Kingman, Ariz.

Tomas Sotelo Jr., 20

Houston, Texas

Timothy Conneway, 22

Enterprise, Ala.

Christopher Coffin, 51

Bethlehem, Pa.

Travis Bradachnall, 21

Multnomah County, Ore.

Edward Herrgott, 20

Shakopee, Minn.

Corey L. Small, 20

East Berlin, Pa.

Jeffrey Wershow, 22

Gainesville, Fla.

David B. Parson, 30

Kannapolis, N.C.

Paul J. Cassidy, 36

Laingsburg, Mich.

Michael Crockett, 27

Soperton, Ga.

Jaror Puello-Coronado, 36

Pocono Summit, Pa.

Cory R. Geurin, 18

Santee, Calif.

Ramon R. Torres, 29

Caguas, P.R.

Douglas Whetstone, 30

Jacksonville, Fla.

David J. Moreno, 26

Gering, Neb.

Joel Bertoldie, 20

Independence, Mo.

Jonathan Rozier, 25

Katy, Texas

Jason D. Jordan, 24

Elba, Ala.

Jonathan Cheatham, 19

Camden, Ark.

WilfredO Perez Jr., 24

Norwalk, Conn.

Jonathan Barnes, 21

Anderson, Mo.

Daniel Methvin, 22

Belton, Texas

Heath McMillin, 29

Clifton Springs, N.Y.

William Maher III, 35

Yardley, Pa.

Nathaniel Hart Jr., 29

Valdosta, Ga.

Leif E. Nott 24

Cheyenne, Wyo.

Michael Deutsch, 21

Dubuque, Iowa

James Lambert III, 22

Raleigh, N.C.

Floyd Knighten Jr., 55

Olla, La.

Levi Kinchen, 21

Tickfaw, La.

David S. Perry, 36,

Bakersfield, Calif.

Taft V. Williams, 29

New Orleans, La.

Timmy R. Brown, 21

Conway, Pa.

Daniel R. Parker, 18

Lake Elsinore, Calif.

Richard Eaton Jr., 37

Guilford, Conn.

Steven W. White, 29

Lawton, Okla.

Eric R. Hull, 23

Uniontown, Pa.

David Kirchhoff, 31

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Rafael Navea, 34

Pittsburgh, Pa.

Gregory Belanger, 24

Narragansett, R.I.

Anthony Sherman, 43

Pottstown, Pa.

Mark Lawton, 41

Hayden, Colo.

Sean Cataudella, 28

Tucson, Ariz.

Joseph Camara, 40

New Badford, Mass.

Charles Caldwell, 38

North Providence, R.I.

Cameron Sarno, 43

Waipahu, Hawaii

Christopher Sisson, 20

Oak Park, Ill.

Bruce E. Brown, 32

Coatopa, Ala.

Richard Arriaga, 20

Ganado, Texas

James C. Wright, 27

Morgan, Texas

Brian R. Faunce, 28

Philadelphia, Pa.

Frederick Miller Jr., 27

Hagerstown, Ind.

Lunsford Brown II, 27

Creedmoor, N.C.

David Friedrich, 26

Hammond, N.Y.

Paul J. Sturino, 21

Rice Lake, Wis.

Michael Andrade, 28

Bristol, R.I.

Kyle G. Thomas, 23

Topeka, Kans.

Robert L. Lucero, 34

Casper, Wyo.

Spencer Karol, 20

Woodruff, Ariz.

Richard Torres, 25

Clarksville, Tenn.

Kerry D. Scott, 21

Mount Vernon, Wash.

Sean A. Silva, 23

Roseville, Calif.

Christopher Swisher, 26

Lincoln, Neb.

Joseph Norquist, 26

San Antonio, Texas

James E. Powell, 26

Radcliff, Ky.

Donald Wheeler, 22

Concord, Mich.

Stephen Wyatt, 19

Kilgore, Texas

Jose Casanova, 23

El Monte, Calif.

Jason M. Ward, 25

Tulsa, Okla.

John P. Johnson, 24

Houston, Texas

John R. Teal, 31

Mechanicsville, Va.

Michael Hancock, 29

Yreka, Calif.

Artimus Brassfield, 22

Flint, Mich.

Jose L. Mora, 26

Bell Gardens, Calif.

Joseph Guerrera, 20

Dunn, N.C.

Jamie Huggins, 26

Hume, Mo.

Rachel Bosveld, 19

Waupun, Wis.

Steven Acosta, 19

Calexico, Calif.

Jose Perez III, 22

San Diego, Texas

Kenneth Bradley, 39

Utica, Miss.

Kyle A. Griffin, 20

Emerson, N.J.

Michael Gleason, 25

Warren, Pa.

Zachariah Long, 20

Milton, Pa.

Jonathan Lambert, 28

Newsite, Miss.

Atanacio Haromarin, 27

Baldwin Park, Calif.

Branden Oberleitner, 20

Worthington, Ohio

Travis Burkhardt, 26

Edina, Mo.

Doyle Bollinger Jr., 21

Poteau, Okla.

William Latham, 29

Kingman, Ariz.

Michael R. Deuel, 21

Nemo, S.Dak.

John Nakamura, 21

Santa Fe Springs, Calif.

Orenthial Smith, 21

Allendale, S.C.

Cedric Lennon, 32

West Blocton, Ala.

Andrew F. Chris, 25

California

Gladimir Philippe, 37,

Linden, N.J.

Kevin C. Ott, 27

Columbus, Ohio

Gregory MacDonald, 29

Washington, D.C.

Richard Orengo, 32

Toa Alta, P.R.

Chad L. Keith, 21

Batesville, Ind.

Barry Sanford Sr., 46

Aurora, Colo.

Robert L. McKinley, 23

Kokomo, Ind.

Craig A. Boling, 38

Elkhart, Ind.

Roger Rowe, 54

Bon Aqua, Tenn.

Dan Gabrielson, 39

Spooner, Wis.

Melissa Valles, 26

Eagle Pass, Texas

Jason Tetrault, 20

Moreno Valley, Calif.

Christian Schulz, 20

Colleyville, Texas

Joshua M. Neusche, 20

Montreal, Mo.

Justin W. Garvey, 23

Townsend, Mass.

Christopher Willoughby, 29

Phenix City, Ala.

Mark A. Bibby, 25

Watha, N.C.

Jon P. Fettig, 30

Dickinson, N.Dak.

Joshua Byers, 29

Nevada

Brett Christian, 27

North Royalton, Ohio

Evan Ashcraft, 24

West Hills, Calif.

Raheen Heighter, 22

Bay Shore, N.Y.

Hector R. Perez, 40

Corpus Christi, Texas

Juan Serrano, 31

Manati P.R.

Justin W. Hebert, 20

Arlington, Wash.

Farao Letufuga, 20

Pago Pago, Samoa

David L. Loyd, 44

Jackson, Tenn.

Brian Hellerman, 35

Freeport, Minn.

Kyle Gilbert, 20

Brattleboro, Vt.

Leonard Simmons, 33

New Bern, N.C.

Zeferino Colunga, 20

Bellville, Texas

Duane Longstreth, 19

Tacoma Wash.

Matthew Bush, 20

East Alton, Ill.

Brandon Ramsey, 21

Calumet City, Ill.

Craig S. Ivory, 26

Port Matilda, Pa.

Bobby Franklin, 38

Mineral Bluff, Ga.

Kenneth Harris Jr., 23

Charlotte, Tenn.

Michael Adams, 20

Spartanburg, S.C.

Kylan Jones-Huffman, 31

Aptos, Calif.

Stephen Scott, 21

Lawton, Okla.

Vorn Mack, 19

Orangeburg, S.C.

Pablo Manzano, 19

Heber, Calif.

Ronald Allen Jr., 22

Mitchell, Ind.

Darryl T. Dent, 21

Washington, D.C.

Jarrett Thompson, 27

Dover, Del.

Ryan Carlock, 25

Macomb, Ill.

Joseph Robsky Jr., 31

Elizaville, N.Y.

Henry Ybarra III, 32

Austin, Texas

Kevin Morehead, 33

Little Rock, Ark.

William Bennett, 35

Seymour, Tenn.

Trevor Blumberg, 22

Canton, Mich.

Kevin Kimmerly, 31

North Creek, N.Y.

Alyssa Peterson, 27

Flagstaff, Ariz.

Anthony Thompson, 26

Orangeburg, S.C.

Robert Rooney, 43

Nashua, N.H.

Darrin Potter, 24

Louisville, Ky.

Christopher Cutchall, 30

McConnellsburg, Pa.

Andrew Baddick, 26

Jim Thorpe, Pa.

Dustin McGaugh, 20

Derby, Kans.

Simeon Hunte, 23

Newark, N.J.

Analaura Gutierrez, 21

Houston, Texas

James Blankenbecler, 40

Alexandria, Va

Charles M. Sims, 18

Miami, Pa.

James Pirtle, 27

La Mesa, N.Mex.

Benjamin Freeman, 19

Valdosta, Ga.

Douglas Weismantle, 28

Pittsburgh, Pa.

Kim Orlando, 43

Nashville, Tenn.

Joseph Bellavia, 28

Wakefield, Mass.

Michael Williams, 46

Buffalo, N.Y.

Sean R. Grilley, 24

San Bernardino, Calif.

David Bernstein, 24

Phoenixville, Pa.

John D. Hart, 20

Bedford, Mass.

Paul J. Johnson, 29

Calumet City, Mich.

Paul Bueche, 19

Daphne, Ala.

Charles Buehring, 40

Fayetteville, N.C.

Jonathan Falaniko, 20

Pago Pago, Samoa

Aubrey Bell, 33

Tuskegee, Ala.

Michael Barrera, 26

Von Ormy, Texas

Isaac Campoy, 21

Douglas, Ariz.

Algernon Adams, 36

Aiken, S.C.

Todd J. Bryant, 23

Riverside, Calif.

Joshua Hurley, 24

Clifton Forge, Va.

Benjamin Colgan, 30

Kent, Wash.

Maurice Johnson, 21

Levittown, Pa.

Paul Velazquez, 29

California

Ernest Bucklew, 33

Enon Valley, Pa.

Anthony Dagostino, 20

Waterbury, Conn.

Karina S. Lau, 20

Livingston, Calif.

Keelan Moss, 23

Houston, Texas

Ross Pennenen, 36

Oklahoma

Brian Slavenas, 30

Genoa, Ill.

Frances Vega, 20

Fort Buchanan, P.R.

Joe Wilson, 30

Mississippi

Darius Jennings, 22

Cordova, S.C.

Steven Conover, 21

Wilmington, Ohio

Daniel Bader, 28

Colorado Springs, Colo.

Brian Penisten, 28

Fort Wayne, Ind.

Joel Perez, 25

Rio Grande, P.R.

Bruce Smith, 41

West Liberty, Iowa

Rayshawn Johnson, 20

Brooklyn, N.Y.

Francisco Martinez, 28

Humacao, P.R.

Robert Benson, 20

Spokane, Wash.

Jose Rivera, 34

Bayamon, P.R.

Paul F. Fisher, 39

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

James Wolf, 21

Scottsbluff, Neb.

James Chance III, 25

Kokomo, Miss.

Sharon Swartworth, 43

Virginia

Kyran Kennedy, 43

Boston, Mass.

Paul M. Neff II, 30

Fort Mill, S.C.

Scott Rose, 30

Fayatteville, N.C.

Morgan Kennon, 23

Memphis, Tenn.

Benedict Smith, 29

Monroe City, Mo.

Cornell Gilmore, 45

Baltimore, Md.

Mark Vasquez, 35

Port Huron, Mich.

Gary Collins, 32

Hardin, Tesas

Kurt Frosheiser, 22

Des Moines, Iowa

Nicholas Tomko, 24

Pittsburgh, Pa.

Marlon Jackson, 25

Jersey City, N.J.

Genaro Acosta, 26

Fair Oaks, Calif.

Robert Wise, 21

Tallahassee, Fla.

Nathan Bailey, 46

Nashville, Tenn.

Joseph Minucci II, 23

Richeyville, Pa.

Irving Medina, 22

Middletown, N.Y.

Michael Acklin II, 25

Louisville, Ky.

Ryan Baker, 24

Browns Mills, N.J.

William Dusenbery, 30

Fairview Heights, Ill.

Warren Hansen, 36

Clintonville, Wis.

John Russell, 26

Texas

Eugene Uhl III, 21

Amherst, Wis.

Jacob Fletcher, 28

Bay Shore, N.Y.

Sheldon Hawk Eagle, 21

Grand Forks, N.Dak.

Erik Kesterson, 29

Independence, Ore.

John Sullivan, 26

Countryside, Ill.

Jeremy Wolfe, 27

Wisconsin

Scott Saboe, 33

Willow Lake, S.D.

Timothy Hayslett, 26

Newville, Pa.

Kelly Bolor, 37

Whittier, Calif.

Damian Heidelberg, 21

Batesville, Miss.

Jeremiah Digiovanni, 21

Tylertown, Miss.

Richard Hafer, 21

Cross Lanes, W.Va.

Joey Whitener, 19

Nebo, N.C.

Pierre Piche, 29

Starksboro, Vt.

Alexander Coulter, 35

Tennessee

Dale Panchot, 26

Northome, Minn.

James Shull, 32

California

Nathan Dalley, 27

Kaysville, Utah

George Wood, 33

New York, N.Y.

Josph Lister, 22

Pleasanton, Kans.

Scott M. Tyrrell, 21

Sterling, Ill.

Gary Coleman, 24

Pikeville, Ky.

Damian Bushart, 22

Waterford, Mich.

Robert Roberts, 21

Winter Park, Fla.

Jerry Wilson, 45

Thomson, Ga.

Rel A. Ravago IV, 21

Glendale, Calif.

Eddie Menyweather, 35

Los Angeles, Calif.

Darrell Smith, 28

Otwell, Ind.

Christopher Nason, 39

Los Angeles, Calif.

David Goldberg, 20

Layton, Utah

Thomas J. Sweet II, 23

Bismarck, N.Dak.

Ariel Rico, 25

El Paso, Texas

Stephen Bertolino, 40

Orange, Calif.

Aaron J. Sissel, 22

Tipton, Iowa

Uday Singh, 21

Lake Forest, Ill.

Ryan Young, 21

Corona, Calif.

Raphael Davis, 24

Tutwiler, Miss.

Clarence Boone, 50

Fort Worth, Texas

Arron R. Clark, 20

Chico, Calif.

Ray Hutchinson, 20

League City, Texas

Jason Wright, 19

Luzerne, Mich.

Christopher Wesley, 26

Portland, Ore.

Steven H. Bridges, 33

Tracy, Calif.

Joseph Blickenstaff, 23

Corvallis, Ore.

Jerrick M. Petty, 25

Idaho Falls, Idaho

Aaron T. Reese, 31

Reynoldsburg, Ore.

Marshall Edgerton, 27

Rocky Face, Ga.

Jeffrey Braun, 19

Stafford, Conn.

Jarrod W. Black, 26

Peru, Ind.

Richard Burdick, 24

National City, Calif.

Rian Ferguson, 22

Taylors, S.C.

Kimberly Voelz, 27

Carlisle, Pa.

Kenneth C. Souslin, 21

Mansfield, Ohio

Althea Gibson, 76

FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN WIMBLEDON WINNER

“She used to tell me she couldn’t wait for someone to take the burden off her by winning a Grand Slam. So when Serena Williams won the U.S. Open, Althea was so excited. She said, ‘Well, finally it’s lifted. I can’t wait until Wimbledon!’ ”

—TENNIS PRO ZINA GARRISON

June Carter Cash, 73

SINGER-SONGWRITER

“June never sulked, was never rude, and went out of her way to make you feel at home. She had tremendous dignity and grace and treated the cashier at the supermarket with the same friendly respect as she did the President.”

—SINGER ROSANNE CASH

Fred Rogers, 74

CHILDREN’S TV PERSONALITY

“He was a physically small man with a great heart and a great vision. He was powerful in a quiet, hip way in his zip-up sweater. He knew what he wanted to say to children and how to reassure them. He talked to the TV camera like it was a kid.”

—ACTOR MICHAEL KEATON

Nina Simone, 70

SINGER

“It’s one thing to sing a song, but Nina had an uncanny gift for climbing into a tune and stripping it down to its bare essentials. There was such a unique timbre to her voice, a pathos. Its effect is lodged in our consciousness.”

—SINGER CASSANDRA WILSON

Nell Carter, 54

SINGER-ACTRESS

“There was something about her that was so cute and girlish. But she had every bit as much power as Ethel Merman or Ethel Waters. She came alive in front of an audience.”

—ACTRESS-CHOREOGRAPHER DEBBIE ALLEN

Barry White, 58

SINGER-PRODUCER

“Barry had a strong following among women. They would come up to him and say, ‘I have a beautiful child because the night we conceived we were listening to your music.’ ”

—BIOGRAPHER MARC ELIOT

Celia Cruz, 78

SINGER

“She was over-the-top, and the more wild she looked, the better. But she was regular people, never a diva. Celia was someone who comes around only once.”

—SINGER GLORIA ESTEFAN

Gregory Peck, 87

ACTOR

“He was very unto himself, not showy, and had an unassuming demeanor. But on the screen this enormous power came out of this shy, quiet man. It was truly awesome.”

—ACTRESS POLLY BERGEN

Keiko

KILLER WHALE

It only seemed fair that after playing a whale who gets released from captivity, the mammal himself be given the same opportunity. Easier said than done. Captured in 1979 when he was only about 2 years old, Keiko lived most of his life in marine theme parks before starring in 1993’s Free Willy. As a result, he didn’t even know how to catch fish. A hefty $24 million in donations helped prepare him for life in the wild, and for four years he was taken on escorted “walks” from his sea pen into the open waters near Vestmannaeyjar, Iceland. He finally swam off on his own in 2002, but when he settled some 870 miles away in the Skaalvik Fjord on the coast of Norway, he slipped into his familiar routine. The townspeople fed him, children rode on his back, and Keiko rarely ventured far from his new friends. It was near there that the six-ton whale died on Dec. 12, apparently from pneumonia, at roughly 26 years old. Most captive whales die in their early 20s, while in the wild, the average male orca lives to around 30. Keiko, now buried in a pasture near the shore, was unique in that he was both. “He was a fantastic being,” says Mark Berman, assistant director of the Free Willy-Keiko Foundation. “He was a hero for millions of people who took him into their hearts and minds.”