Albuquerque Public Schools
Remembering the Heroes
In her weekly message, Superintendent Blakey Honors APS Alumni Who Gave their Lives for Our Country.
He had blond hair, loved nature and was an incredible swimmer. Stephen Kowalczyk was a year ahead of me at Highland High School, and he was my friend.
He was just 32 years old when he died in Iraq on March 14, 2007. The sadness I felt when I heard he had perished instantly made the war in Iraq real to me in a way that years of watching it play out on TV never could. And it changed the way I think of Memorial Day.
Up until that day, I thought of Memorial Day as the unofficial kickoff to summer, a day for barbecues, family and friends. I knew it was also a day to be grateful to all the men and women who died in service to our country. But I didn’t really grasp the depth of the holiday until Stephen was killed in Muqdadiya, Iraq, by “small arms fire.”
Every Memorial Day since, I think of Stephen and what he gave up for our country. I think of his family and what they lost. And I think of all the other service members who died in the line of duty.
Albuquerque Public Schools has more than its share of graduates who gave their lives for our country.
Individuals like Marine Lance Corporal Christopher Adlesperger, a member of Eldorado High School’s Class of 2003. Army Sgt. James C. Akin, a member of Valley High’s class of 2001.
Marine Sgt. Chris Diaz, a member of La Cueva High’s class of 2003. Air Force Tech Sgt. Scott Duffman, a member of La Cueva’s class of 1992.
Army PFC Charles M. High, who graduated from Eldorado in 2007. Army Specialist Alex Jordan, a member of Cibola High’s class of 2003.
Army PFC Zachary Lovejoy, who graduated from La Cueva in 2008. Army Specialist Christopher Merville, a member of Eldorado’s class of 1996.
Marine Lance Cpl. Christopher Ramos, a member of West Mesa High’s class of 1995. Air Force Special Agent Nathan J. Schuldheiss, who graduated from La Cueva in 1998.
Army Sgt. 1st Class Christopher Speer, a member of Sandia High School’s class of 1991. Army Specialist Adam Spohn, a member of Cibola’s class of 2004.
Army Staff Sgt. Daniel Eugene Tallouzi, who graduated from Valley in 2002. Army Sgt. Eric Vizcaino, a member of West Mesa’s Class of 2003.
And Marine Major Doug Zembiec, who graduated from La Cueva in 1991.
Like Stephen, each one of these men left behind grieving families and friends. We owe it to each of these heroes and to all the others who lost their lives in Vietnam, Korea, World War I and World War II and all the other conflicts to remember and honor their sacrifice.
And we owe a thank you to all the brave men and women of the armed forces for putting themselves on the line for us and our country every day.
Enjoy your Memorial Day weekend.