Captain Paul E. Carey Memorial Scholarship

Please see the following links for additional information: Brigham Young University Brigham Young University Air Force ROTC C-21 accident details: Talk given at Paul's Memorial We, as citizens of this great country, do not always realize the sacrifices made by those who serve in the military services, both in peacetime as well as in combat. Thousands have lost their lives in non-combat accidents. If someone you know or love has been lost, Please see the following website for comfort and counseling. They are a wonderful and dedicated group devoted to this service: ...Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors of those lost in combat or military accidents : TAPS The presentation at the 2004 AFROTC Awards ceremony followed this talk by Capt. Carey's mother, Karen Carey, to honor the recipient and all of the AFROTC students :

"North Platte, Nebraska is a small town in the heartland of the United States about half-way between Leavenworth Kansas and Utah. We used to travel through North Platte every year as we made the trip from our home in Leavenworth to Utah. This small town of about 12,000 people is located in the middle, of the middle, of our country alone on the plains.

This story from Parade Magazine in 2002 tells this story:

Years ago when the Union Pacific railroad line ran through North Platte and when World War II began the trains carried precious cargo – American soldiers – on their way to battle.

Day and night trains rolled into North Platte, that town of 12,000 in the middle, of the middle of our country, when a local resident had an idea – why not meet the trains and offer affection and support to those on board?

So on Christmas Day 1941, it began – a train came into the depot and the soldiers on board were greeted by North Platte residents with kind words, gracious smiles, and heaping baskets of food.

The depot turned into the North Platte canteen over the years. Every day they came, 3000 to 5000 soldiers and other military personnel. The trains would stop for only 10 minutes - the military could not get off - but the citizens of North Platte were ready. It was a farming area so they had farm-fried chicken, sandwiches, fresh fruit, cold milk, and home-baked desserts.

Men, women, teenagers, and children – they all came to greet the military personnel and say – Thank you. They made those 10 minutes really count.

One soldier recalled a lady with a double-layer cake approaching him, “Is it your birthday today?” “No”, the soldier said. “Well, I’m making it your birthday”, the lady said and handed the cake to him.

By the time the war was over, over 6 million had been greeted and served by North Platte, that town in the middle, of the middle of our country.

This was not a project by the government. It was orchestrated by private citizens and the local businesses of North Platte, Nebraska. Those on the train were often teenagers themselves. It was often the first time they had left home. Those Mom’s and Dad’s made us feel like heroes, the young soldiers said.

I love this story because I can imagine our Paul being on such a train, going through such a town. He would be delighted to have a child serve him brownies from a basket that they carried and he would love, as each of you would, the brownies.

This was a country supporting their troops with down home kindness and on the battlefield, almost all had heard of North Platte and knew where it was. Soldiers were heard talking about "The North Platte Canteen" and they would say, “I’d sure love to have some food from the North Platte canteen now.”

Abraham Lincoln’s 2nd inaugural address, in March 4, 1865, had these famous lines as the end of the Civil War was in sight, “Let us strive on to finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation’s wounds, to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphans to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations.”

It is in honor of our Paul and the many other Pauls who have been in our Armed Forces whether on the battlefield or serving in positions of support that our family is here today and we commend you. You are on the right track – probably not going to North Platte, Nebraska, but your feet are firmly planted in the right direction – and we thank you and honor your for your dedication. May your life be enriched by many 'North Plattes' as you serve our country.

Now as part of our Honor and Commitment to you we present our scholarship to this year's recipient: Paul Gardiner."