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Marshallese sports teams meet with command on issues — page 4 Inside: Community reflects on Robyn Clark — page 3 Earth Day plans set to bloom April 22 — page 6 April 13, 2004 The Kwajalein Hourglass www.smdc.army.mil/KWAJ/Hourglass/hourglass.html (Photo by Jim Bennett) Editorial Letters to the Editor The hardest question is ‘Why’ Community helps A few years back my oldest son, John, came home in tears. A friend of his died in support drive for a head-on car accident. overseas soldiers He asked “Mom, we played basketball I wanted to extend a big Komol Tata to yesterday. How could this happen?” the Kwajalein Community for donating I didn’t have any answers then, and I all the books, magazines, and movies didn’t have any when my youngest son, for the soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan. David, asked “How can you have a head- Another Komol to Nathalie and Cornel- ache one day and be gone the next?” the pictures I took of the movie group at lia Notarianni for the flag they made, I Last week, David lost a friend; one of his Winter Ball. They were putting together a know some soldier or unit will cherish it. movie group friends. scrap book of their memories. The only I would especially like to thank Benjamin Every Saturday night, they would gather thing they had left to hang on to, memories. Ouderkirk and Joshua Kendrick from at someone’s house and watch movies At the memorial service, zombies Boy Scout Troop #314 who helped me until they couldn’t watch movies anymore. shuffled around trying to make sense of organize and box everything as it came They went to Winter Ball together, and what they were feeling over what had hap- in. I continued to get books and movies laughed when they all piled into the van. pened. Hanging on the wall was a paper after the drive and the final total going So this is probably the hardest thing he covered with traced hand-prints reaching across two oceans and two continents has ever had to face in his life. out to the one they lost, and inside the is over 300 books and magazines, and But it reaches deeper than that. traced hand-prints, messages of love, over 30 movies. The next day, he said “Everyone at grief, remembrance and loss. Komol Tata, school is just like zombies.” As I went through the motions of comfort- SGT Chris Hansen I think he was talking about himself. He ing and hugging, a huge sadness swept USAKA Personnel Sergeant shuffles around the house and clings to over me, sadness for all that was lost that what is left of the movie group, and they day — a daughter, friend, student, sister To submit a letter: Keep letters to less than 300 words, and keep comments to the issues. Letters cling to him. Huddled together in a small and everything she would never become. must be signed. We will edit for AP style and, if room, they cry and laugh and remember. How do you say things will be better you exceed the word limit, space. Limit one letter Red-eyed, they hold their heads up, but tomorrow? Things won’t hurt as much. I every 30 days. behind the eyes they question “Why?” found out they hurt just as much today as Send your letter to: they did those many years ago. The Hourglass, P.O. Box 23, Local; or I wish I could take the pain they feel and [email protected]. carry it, the same way I wanted to take The pain is still there, and so is the ques- John’s pain when he asked “Why?” tion “Why?” Marshallese Word of the Day It is never easy when a child dies, but One thing did shine bright; the memo- what is even harder is the friends and fam- ries of this remarkable young lady will likko — skirt ily they leave behind all with the question in burn bright for years to come. She made a their eye, “Why?” tremendous mark on the lives of all those The Kwajalein Hourglass David called and asked if he could have she touched. Commanding Officer ...Col. Jerry Brown Buckminster and Friends by Sabrina Mumma Public Affairs Officer...LuAnne Fantasia Editor .....................................Jim Bennett Graphics Designer....................Dan Adler Reporter................................ Jan Waddell Circulation............................... Jon Cassel Intern.......................... Krystle McAllister The Hourglass is named for the insignia of the U.S. Army 7th Infantry Division, which liberated the island from the forces of Imperial Japan on Feb 4, 1944. The Kwajalein Hourglass is an authorized publication for military personnel, federal employees, contractor workers and their families assigned to USAKA. Contents of the Hourglass are not necessarily official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Government, Department of Defense, Department of the Army or USAKA. It is published Tuesdays and Fridays in accordance with Army Regulation 360-1 and using a network printer by Kwajalein Range Services editorial staff, P.O. Box 23, APO AP 96555. Phone: Autovon 254-3539; local 53539. Printed circulation: 2,000 The Kwajalein Hourglass 2 April 13, 2004 April 13, 2004 The Kwajalein Hourglass Community mourns loss in memorial service By Jan Waddell Christy told of some of her memo- lulu recently, she made sure she Reporter ries about Robyn when she would had a list of all the items needed for Members of the Kwajalein commu- visit Christy during class and leave Coffee Shop. nity filled the multi-purpose room at her messages on the computer. Later, Peterson said a song dedi- the high school Friday to show love Looking around the MP room cated to Robyn’s memory will be for one whose life was cut short. would have made sung at Coffee Robyn Clark, 15, died Thursday Robyn happy, Shop, to be held at Kwajalein Hospital of a “pneu- Christy said. It “Bloom where you April 18 (see mococcal meningitis,” according to was filled with are planted. She related story on Dr. Eric Lindborg, chief medical abstract art and page 6). officer. vibrant colors, bloomed here on “Life is a “This type of something Robyn cycle,” Peterson meningitis is loved. Christy this island.” said. not associated then shared — Robert Clark She went on to with person-to- a painting of read letters writ- person trans- Robyn done by another art stu- ten to Robyn from her teachers and mission, and it dent and titled “Fire Robyn.” This presented a scrap book filled with is not associ- was Robyn, a fiery, vibrant young photos and memories to Robyn’s ated with clus- woman filled with life, Christy said. parents. ters of cases Through tears, Robyn’s friend Others spoke about Robyn’s or epidemics,” Allison Peacock said, “She left this crush on Prince William and her Lindborg said. world so fast, I couldn’t even say willingness to volunteer. Friday, the Robyn Clark good-bye.” Mary Beth Clark, Robyn’s mother, out-pouring She told of her memories of said, “Robyn was a special girl. She of support and love from the Kwaj Robyn, who wanted to become an was my best friend.” community was seen in the red- attorney, and of Robyn’s drive to Mary Beth talked about how dened eyes and the MP room filled succeed at all she did. Robyn loved the fact she worked in to standing room only. Then Barry Childers, another the school library and some of the Born May 1, 1988, Clark moved to school friend, talked of group movie special moments they had together. Kwajalein with her family mid-way night and how Robyn loved the She asked the students to visit through the seventh grade. movie “Casablanca” and her infatu- her in the library and check out a At first, she wanted to hate Kwaj, ation with Humphrey Bogart. book even if they never read it; just but as time passed, she came to Robyn also was in the high school come and visit. love living here, according to family play “12 Angry Jurors.” Childers “Kwaj was her home,” Mary Beth friend Dave Hamill. brought laughter when he retold said. “Think of Robyn. Remember Hamill started the memorial say- Robyn’s humorous antics while Robyn.” ing, “This is a remembrance of a girl learning her lines for the play. “Bloom where you are planted,” we all loved.” “You don’t realize how much you said Robyn’s father Robert Clark. Christian Clark, Robyn’s brother, love someone until they are gone,” “She bloomed here on this island.” solemnly walked to the podium and Childers said. Through his tears, Robert assured gave a brief prayer. Student, Leah Simpson said she everyone, “Everything that could be Hamill gave a brief description of only met Robyn last year. done was done.” Robyn saying “She helped He spoke of his love for his “tropi- she started walk- me so much,” cal flower,” and as he choked back ing and running “You don’t realize Simpson said. the tears, his sadness at the loss. at nine months how much you love Simpson told He thanked all those who were old and never of Robyn’s love there to support and comfort the stopped. He someone until they for the National family in their time of grief. said Robyn had Honor Society The memorial ended with a con- learned to love are gone.” and her zeal for dolence line for the community to Kwaj weather, life. give support to the family and a culture and her — Barry Childers “She always book of memories for anyone who friends.

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