And, such a renaissance man, even at the tender age of 22. Menke was an athlete and an artist. A memorial in a flower bed in front of the auditorium displayed photos of him as a high school senior in the role of Gaston in the musical Beauty and the Beast. Another framed photo included the Alexander Pope quote, "Act well your part: there all the honor lies."

Act well your part: there all the honor lies.

Jon Menke did his part. I had to ask myself, am I doing mine? When a young man with such promise gives his life for a greater purpose, it is a fitting question to ask, for those of us who live under the flag he defended.