WTOC salutes a Hampton County Gold Star mother

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By Jaime Dailey bio | email

HAMPTON, SC (WTOC) A mother in Hampton County is doing her part to remember and honor our nation's fallen heroes and the loved ones they leave behind.

Debbi Rivers knows the price of freedom. "Thirty-two-years-old when God took him," said Rivers. Her son, Specialist Harry Winkler III, known to many as Buck was killed in Iraq nearly three years ago.

"He was in his second deployment with the 82nd Airborn and he was killed on November 12, 2006," said Debbi.

She now wears his tags around her neck and never takes off a bracelet with his picture on it. Since his death, she's become the President of the South Carolina Department of Gold Star Mothers dedicating herself to honoring those who gave their lives and taking care of their loved ones.

"I miss him every day and God has allowed me to do many things to not only honor Buck's name but all of those who have gone before and since I have online support groups," said Debbi. "It's grief support for these families of the fallen. I became a peer mentor for the Tragedy Assistance Program for survivors."

Now she's working on another cause, trying to get this Honor and Remember flag recognized as a national symbol for servicemen and woman who died defending our country.

"It would be good to have this flag flown at a state level in all 50 states and just so we've not forgotten what your price of freedom is and freedom is not free, I can tell you that right now," said Debbi.

Debbi was recently presented the flag and wants to do all she can to help put it in the hands of others in her situation.

"I"m trying to be one small person to get that out there and help people know that all of those that died in active duty that they should be honored and remembered," said Debbi. "Every family out there deserves a remembrance. We do get the US flag, but this is a flag that when somebody sees it flying they know, that's their price of freedom."

For all she does, we at WTOC Salute Debbie Rivers.

If you'd like to learn more about the flag and this effort visit www.HonorandRemember.org. You can also sign an online petition on the website to help make this a national symbol for our fallen heroes. Debbi also encourages everyone to contact your local and state representatives to help further this effort.