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For Love Of His Country

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By ANGELA DELGADO

The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 21, 2008

Updated: 06/21/2008 12:17 am

TOWN 'N COUNTRY - Marine Lance Cpl. Kevin Waruinge was not yet a citizen of the United States when he enlisted to fight in Iraq, but his love for this country outweighed his nationality.

Born in Kenya, he enlisted in the military in 2001 and became a U.S. citizen in 2003. His parents, Rose Waruinge and Patrick Gachau, said the military was his passion. Although he served one tour before returning to Florida to finish his studies in criminal justice at Pensacola Christian College, he soon signed up for a second tour.

It was during that tour that Waruinge lost his life. On Aug. 3, 2005, he and 13 other Marines were killed by a roadside bomb near Haditha, Iraq. He was 22.

Friday morning, about 50 people gathered at West Gate Baptist Church, 5121 Kelly Road, where Waruinge and Gachau are members, for an Honor Ceremony to remember the fallen soldier. The ceremonies are held by the American Ideals Foundation Inc. as part of their Military Heroes Project.

Gachau saw one of the honor ceremonies and contacted organization founder Robert Moffa to have one for his oldest son.

The American Ideals Foundation, which formed in 1982, recognizes fallen heroes and keeps their memories alive by presenting families with a portrait, song and poem inspired by their loved one. The foundation performs the ceremonies all over the country, free of charge. The nonprofit group offsets the costs with sponsorships, Moffa said.

During Waruinge's ceremony, Moffa composed and played "The Military Hero, Lance Cpl. Kevin Waruinge," Gareth R. Schumacher read his "Commemorative Poem," and artist Greg Crumbly painted a "Portrait of Life," that displays the Marine in his uniform surrounded by vignettes of his life.

"When I saw the painting, it brought back memories of Kevin when I was raising him as a young boy," said Rose Waruinge, of New Tampa. "It was an awesome, awesome painting. The ceremony today meant a lot to me, to see that our children are not forgotten and that what they died for is cherished by many."

Along with the painting, poem and song, the foundation also started an educational scholarship in the Marine's name: the Lance Cpl. Kevin Waruinge Scholarship Memorial Fund.

After the ceremony, family and friends headed outside to see four butterflies released in honor of Waruinge.

"I know it's something good for them to do, but it's something that hits you so hard, the emotions get affected and you find yourself going back to that place you were in, in 2005," Gachau said. "But they're doing it for families so they heal, so families behind us can learn that it's something honorable to serve our country."

Anyone interested in memorializing a fallen soldier with an Honor Ceremony should contact the American Ideals Foundation at (813) 641-2513 or www.freewebs.com/militaryheroesproject.

Reporter Angela Delgado can be reached at (813) 865-1501 or adelgado@tampatrib.com.

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