RIANE MENARDI Star-Tribune staff writer | Posted: Friday, June 13, 2008 12:00 am
Under an overcast sky in the Casper College Rose Garden, Russel Hicks made a gesture to keep his fallen son's name alive. His youngest son, Russel Hicks Jr., stood solemnly at his side, wearing his brother's dog tags.
The two men handed over a check worth $1,560 toward the Corey Lee Hicks scholarship fund, part of the statewide Veterans Project for 20 Wyoming men lost in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Scholarships of $100 will be awarded by a lottery system to full-time Casper College students this fall. There are no restrictions on who receives them or what they are to be used for.
"Applicants have to ask for a scholarship in the name of a soldier, and they'll keep that man's name alive," said Leo Sanchez, founder of the Veterans Project.
Ideally, Sanchez hopes to have $5,000 available in each of the 20 scholarship funds.
Six members of the Patriot Guard Riders showed their respect for Hicks and his family.
"We stand in honor for American service men and women of the past, present and future," said Ken Hooper, a member of the Patriot Guard Riders.
Corey Hicks was killed in Baghdad on May 2, 2008, after a road-side explosive detonated near his vehicle. He was 22.
"What he fought for every day, we take for granted," said his father, Russel Hicks. "He was trying to help those people believe in the same freedom we have here."
For Russel Hicks Jr., 21, the scholarship fund is special way to honor his brother. He said he may apply for it himself one day.
With this scholarship, his father hopes Corey's legacy will live on for years to come.
"It's about keeping Corey's name alive," Hicks said. "He's a hero."
Reach reporter Riane Menardi at (307) 266-0610 or riane.menardi@trib.com