CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – Krista McSwain, who grew up in Clarksville, was just 5 years old when she lost her father in Baghdad.
Sgt. 1st Class Clarence D. McSwain of Meridian, Mississippi, was serving his third tour in Iraq when a roadside bomb exploded near his convoy.
Even though she was so young at the time, she has fond memories of him. “I remember how happy he was and how warm his smile was,” she said. “I remember going to places in Fort Bragg, North Carolina, and feeding the ducks.”
Her father was fighting in the Global War on Terrorism, which began immediately following the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.
Impact of his legacy
As the years passed, McSwain became involved with Gold Star Families, an organization designed for families who have lost loved ones in the line of duty.
In college she joined a program called Freedom Alliance, which helped her financially and gave her an academic scholarship.
Now a senior at the University of Memphis, McSwain recently got to travel to Washington, D.C., with 11 other college students and tour the National Mall and Arlington Cemetery.
The trip was more than just for sightseeing; it was also an opportunity to let her voice be heard about the placement of a national memorial that will honor all those who lost their lives during the Global War on Terror.
Michael R. Rodriguez, president and CEO of Global War on Terrorism Memorial Foundation, the driving force behind establishing a War on Terrorism Memorial, was there to provide a guided tour of the National Mall Reserve area, where a lot of national memorials are located.
“I spent a beautiful morning with them Friday,” he said.
The students had the chance to give input on the memorial and to share their stories.
Rodriguez said it was just as inspiring for him as it was for the students. “They talked a lot about memories they had of their fathers, and I wanted to learn about my brothers.”
Rodriguez said the Global War on Terrorism Memorial Foundation has been raising funds and coordinating efforts for the memorial.
“So far we have raised about $5 million,” he said. “In the 24-step process, we are at steps 9 through 12,” he said.
Washington’s impact
McSwain said it was a great experience. “We got to visit multiple locations (to offer suggestions) on where the new memorial should be located,” she said.
McSwain said her preference was a little shaded area near a body of water. “We looked at four different locations and it was the first location we looked at,” she said.
“It was quiet, super serene, and felt like a great spot for people to be able to sit and remember their family members,” she said.
The trip had a huge impact on McSwain.
“It gave me a great sense of patriotism and a great sense of hope,” she said. “It gave me a sense of how much people sacrificed for this country.”
Future plans
McSwain said her future plans were influenced by her father’s legacy. She’s majoring in international studies with a minor in legal studies, and she plans to continue into graduate school.
She hopes to have a future in foreign affairs, with a goal of working to prevent wars in the future.
“My (father’s story) impacted me a lot. It is one of the reasons why I care about service in others.
“While I was at Fort Campbell, I met so many different cultures and it was interesting to me,” she said. “It was interesting to try different foods, different cultures, and different languages. Even though we were so different in so many ways, it was interesting we could still find so many things in common.”