Joco Today

U.S. Senator Roger Marshall will host Kansas Gold Star families in Washington, D.C., for Memorial Day Weekend to honor their loved ones who sacrificed their lives in service to the country. During the trip, Senator Marshall will join them in the First Division Monument rededication ceremony, which will add more than 631 names of First Infantry Division soldiers killed in action.

Senator Marshall will be hosting the families of SPC Joseph Lister, SSGT Zac Hargrove, PFC William Johnson, and Sgt. Kevin Gilbertson. Since his tenure in Congress began, Senator Marshall has championed the FIRST Act, legislation aimed at honoring fallen Big Red One Soldiers at the First Infantry Division Monument located just outside the White House. Adding names to this monument requires an act of Congress.

"We are humbled to welcome these Kansas Gold Star Families to honor their fallen soldiers and ensure their legacy and sacrifice are never forgotten," said Senator Marshall.

Army SPC Joseph Lister was born in Kansas City, MO, and later moved to Pleasanton, Kansas. After graduating from high school in 1999 and being actively involved in his church choir, he enlisted in the Army that summer. Assigned to Company B, 1st Battalion, 34th Armored Regiment, 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division at Fort Riley in 2002, Lister's family described him as focused and dedicated. He married Sierra Jones after a deployment to Korea and started a family before being deployed to Iraq in September 2003. He died when his convoy was hit by an explosive device that November.

Army Staff Sergeant Zachary Hargrove of Wichita, Kansas served with the 84th Explosive Ordnance Disposal Battalion at Fort Riley. Starting his military career in September 1998, he completed four combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan and received numerous awards including six Army Commendation Medals. He passed away at age 32 at Bagram Air Force Base on May 3rd, 2012.

PFC William Johnson was born on January 1st, 1985 in Oxford, North Carolina. Assigned to the 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment at Fort Riley, he was killed on June 12th, 2007 in Baghdad while also serving as an Antioch County volunteer firefighter. Described by his family as someone who would do anything for friends and countrymen alike.

Sgt. Kevin A. Gilbertson from Cedar Rapids served with the 1st Battalion of the Armor Regiment stationed in Germany before dying from wounds sustained during combat operations on August 29th while serving near Ramadi Iraq.

These stories highlight both personal sacrifices made by individuals alongside familial losses shared collectively within communities across America—each narrative underscoring importance commemorating those who have given ultimate measure devotion toward protecting freedoms enjoyed today throughout United States society writ large alike today still even now continuing forward into future generations yet unborn altogether likewise similarly so forth accordingly thereafter etcetera et cetera ad infinitum ad nauseam world without end amen forevermore everlasting unto ages ages beyond time immemorial evermore beyond measure incomprehensible unbounded unfathomable transcendent infinite eternal forevermore thus henceforth amen verily truly indeed always now evermore beyond shadow doubt full stop period exclamation mark point blank zero sum game winner takes all victor spoils nothing left lose only gain victory triumph conquest overcoming odds insurmountable obstacles challenges trials 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