Family members and friends of Army Command Sgt. Maj. Marilyn Gabbard gathered in Boone Saturday morning for a dedication ceremony to one of Iowa’s finest military heroes and the highest-ranked enlisted woman in Iowa Guard history ever to be killed in action.
Many veterans of U.S. military service swelled the crowd of 125 in the Boone History Museums who came to honor Gabbard, the Boone native who spent 27 years in the Iowa National Guard and was 46 when she was killed in a helicopter crash northeast of Baghdad on Jan. 20, 2007.
Among the honored guests was U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst, herself a 23-year veteran of the Army Reserve and Army National Guard, and Maj. Gen. Timothy Orr, the Iowa Guard’s adjutant general and a close personal friend of Gabbard.
Gabbard’s family members received honorary recognition at the ceremony and were given the first tour of the museum’s newly unveiled CSM Marilyn Gabbard Military Gallery.
A video recording was played of the eulogy delivered at Gabbard’s funeral, and the family was visibly moved in recalling the events of a decade ago.
In development since 2016, the “Heroes of the Heartland” exhibition features stories, artifacts and tributes to Boone County veterans and veterans of foreign wars.
Greg Booton of Boone, a veteran of the U.S. Army, served in the Middle East in 1991 during Operation Desert Storm. He said he donated a complete U.S. Army uniform to the Boone History Museum as well as a set of “load-bearing equipment from the Iraqi Army” that he captured on the battlefield.
Booton’s daughter, Katie Booton of Boone, attended the dedication ceremonies with her father.
Vernon Condon, 86, of Boone said he never served in the armed forces, but his son is a 40-year veteran of the U.S. Army. Condon said he is worried about veterans losing health insurance under Congress’ latest changes to the laws.
Ernst said she knew Gabbard as a fellow soldier.
“We were in the Guard at the same time,” Ernst said. “I never worked directly for her, but she was lovely, and those who were working under her command loved her very much.”
The senator said the new military gallery was impressive, and the tribute to Gabbard stirred the emotions.
“It was amazing, amazing, very touching,” she said. “I can’t help but get wet eyes going through an exhibit like that and to see a memorial service, Marilyn’s memorial service from Iraq, and it was very moving, very moving.”
Ernst said she has not seen the latest House-passed healthcare reform bill, but she feels it is time for action.
“I’m leaning to support it because I just don’t know what else we’re going to do,” Iowa’s junior senator said. “We’ve got carriers leaving Iowa, and what are we going to do? So we’ve got to do something. We know we’ve got to do something. We’ll take a look when it comes up. We’ll probably start diving into it this week. It’s probably one of the first things we’ll do Monday morning.”
The Synergy Winds quintet played the “Star-Spangled banner” at the start of the event and provided occasional music throughout. Following the gallery tours, an appreciation lunch was provided to attending veterans by the Boone Elks Lodge 563, Boone History Museums, Fareway Food Stores, Hy-Vee and McDonalds.
Dolan Olson of the Boone Elks Lodge 563, which helped sponsor the memorial event, said the day was “fantastic. Everyone was impressed with the museum and the Elks’ contributions.”
