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Hernando Today

A Sacred Sacrifice

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By TONY MARRERO Hernando Today

The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 18, 2008

BROOKSVILLE - U.S. Army Spc. Cody Grater was never comfortable with the title "hero," Sgt. First Class Grady Parris said as he stood Friday morning on the side lawn of Brooksville's main post office branch on the State Road 50 bypass.

Parris was the Brooksville Army recruiter who first met Grater when the Spring Hill resident enlisted in 2006 at the age of 19. As dragonflies buzzed over freshly mown grass and rock trucks rumbled on the bypass, Parris recalled Grater's transition from civilian to soldier.

The tall, lanky Grater took his service with the 407th Brigade Support Battalion seriously, but always remained modest and congenial, Parris said.

"He never believed he was a hero," Parris said. "He'd smile, shake his head and say I was only doing my job. Then he would name 12 other soldiers who deserved that honor."

But Friday's ceremony was meant solely for Grater, who was killed in July 2007 when a rocket propelled grenade struck his guard post in Baghdad. He was 21 and was serving as a gunner for the 82nd Airborne Division.

More than 100 people gathered to watch post official officials dedicate the branch at 19101 Cortez Blvd. in Grater's honor.

Audience members clutched programs and the day's memento: Envelopes emblazoned with a photo of Grater in combat fatigues, smiling and leaning jauntily against a tree. Every piece of mail that left the branch Friday bore a stamp with Grater's name on it.

Anita Lewis, Grater's mother, sat in the sun-dappled front row along with her brother Edward and other family members. At one point, Timothy Healy, manager for postal service's Suncoast district, nodded to Anita and offered "a heartfelt thank you for the selfless dedication of your son."

U.S. Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite sponsored the legislation to have the post office named in Grater's honor. It's the third time she's done so for a fallen Hernando County serviceman, and her speech included a similar sentiment to one she offered at the other two naming ceremonies.

"I only hope that when young children come to the post office, they will stop to ask why Cody Grater's name is on the wall," Brown-Waite said.

Lewis said just a few words, thanking "the community for all they've done to carry on my son's name."

Lewis and Brown-Waite lifted a black sheet to unveil the plaque that would hang in the post office lobby.

Spc. Timothy Bell and his wife Kimberly drove from Fort Bragg, N.C. to attend the ceremony. Bell was with Grater when the rocket ripped apart their guard post.

"Cody is a strong man," Bell told the crowd, "and I know this community is going to grow from this, from his strength."

At the end of the ceremony, the towering man in the maroon beret wiped tears as a song called "Sacred Sacrifice" by Pastor Jack Martin played. Martin, chaplain for Spring Hill Fire Rescue and pastor at Praise Assembly of God, wrote the song in Grater's memory.

After the event, Bell recalled how tough Grater was even after suffering mortal wounds as he was rushed to a medic unit. Bell and his fellow soldiers would learn later that Grater had died.

But he has a more pleasant memory of a young man with an enduring level of energy. The unit was enduring a 24-hour expedition in Iraq. By 3 a.m., Bell and most of his fellow soldiers were "as tired as all get out," he recalled.

But when a sergeant ordered Grater onto the back of Bell's truck, "He jumped up with a spark in his eye, ready to roll," he said. "That was him."

Lewis said her son's name on the post office will help carry on the memories of her son that friends and family will carry on through the generations.

"It will all get passed down forever," she said.

Reporter Tony Marrero can be reached at 352-544-5286 or lmarrero@hernandotoday.com.

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