Cpl. Joseph Daniel Logan had no difficulty in finding the way home as his route was lined with grateful Americans holding ‘Old Glory,’ flagging his entourage north to his home in Willis, Texas. A 2008 graduate of Willis High School, Logan enlisted in the Marine Corps in November of the same year. He served two deployments in Afghanistan, with the second one ending his life when the military helicopter he was flying in, crashed in the Helmand province of Afghanistan.
At just 22 years of age, Cpl. Logan had been awarded the Air Medal, Navy Unit Commendation, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and NATO ISAF Medal.
Had I known sooner that his trip home would be stopping at the Sam Houston Memorial Funeral Home; I would have made arrangements to meet him there, which would have also provided me with an opportunity to visit my youngest sister who is buried just a few yards west of the chapel. Born on St. Patrick’s Day, I take her green roses every chance I get. I’m not sure a brave Marine would want roses as much as he would like Americans to know that he didn’t die in vain. So instead, I’ll see that he’s enshrined on the Veterans Memorial Monument to be installed in Montgomery County later this year, so that future generations will know that the freedom they’re enjoying was due to Cpl. Logan making the ultimate sacrifice.
A granite tile will bear his name, and the inscription will be in gold lettering because he was killed in action. Deceased veterans also will have special placement, as well they should. The centerpiece of the memorial monument will be a sculpture depicting two soldiers as they head home from battle. Nationally-acclaimed sculptor and local resident, Ed Hayes, has been commissioned to sculpt this fitting tribute to military personnel killed in Iraq and Afghanistan, and which will pay tribute to all the military branches of the service. The granite tiles will help fund the project and surround the sculpture. How fitting that a wall of veterans will encircle the two soldiers to help them find their way home.
I don’t quite have enough saved up to get the tile just yet. I was earmarking the funds for a tile for my father. I’ll just have to plan for two. If anyone deserves to be enshrined on “The Way Home.” it’s this brave, young Marine. Cpl. Logan, I too, want to help show you the way home.
For more information about this project or if you want to purchased a commemorative tile for a veteran, go to the Greater Woodlands Public Art Foundation website at
http://www.atm.to/wpa/default.htm
