The static from the radio strangled the sports talk show as I drove to Murfreesboro Christmas Day.

Not being in a Christmas mood enough to listen to an all day carol fest, I decided to turn off the radio and think, thinking about everything and thinking about nothing, thinking of where I am and where I need to be.

Then, as I rolled into Conway, my eye caught the first of many yellow ribbons tied to utility poles and mailboxes, houses and businesses.

No one had to tell me what they were there for. Anyone keeping up with local news knew. These ribbons were for Sergeant Will McLawhorn.

I did something many would consider silly as I looked at the ribbons. I saluted because, although I never met this young man, I respect him and the mission he and others like him are on.

On a silent trip to my hometown with few cars on the road, it was a somber sight, a remembrance of a son lost and a community trying to answer the hard questions of why.

One business had a sign remembering the sergeant, which also asked God to bless our troops.

As I passed through Conway and it’s neatly maintained, smartly organized veterans memorial, I saw the wreath I had read about in the story I posted from the Roanoke-Chowan News-Herald, the flags lowered to the mourning position.

Thoughts of one comment posted to the website nagged me to write this column and so now I write, recharged from a long Christmas break away from the computer.

Will McLawhorn’s life was not wasted. He did what he wanted to do, volunteered and knew the risks he would be taking.

The cause he died for was not a useless cause and as national and world news continually talk about terrorism, we need to remember that’s what the sergeant and the others killed with him that day were doing, fighting a very difficult, very painstaking war on a virtually invisible enemy whose handiwork was seen nearly 10 years ago.

We have short memories. We are comfortable now even though signs abound the terrorist attacks of September 11 won’t be the last.

Will MLawhorn didn’t forget. The sergeant remembered and lost his life for our freedom — for you so you can read and agree or disagree with me — for me so I can write this.

Like we need to remember the attacks of September 11, we need to remember the sacrifice Will McLawhorn made the day he died, at the hands of a suicide bomber, a reckless soul whose perception of freedom is different from our perception of freedom.

Will McLawhorn’s sense of freedom goes back to the founding of this country while the suicide bomber’s sense of freedom is tied to bloody hands and a religion which mocks the freedoms we know and cherish.

As sad and somber as it may be, we need to remember Will McLawhorn every day because I believe we have grown soft and unsuspecting.

The people of Conway have not forgotten and neither should we. Rest in peace, sergeant, and thank you for what you did — Lance Martin