The memory of hometown war hero Adam Brown was celebrated Monday at a formal ceremony to rename the downtown Hot Springs Post Office in his honor, not only recognizing him as "a true patriot," but as a "father, a son, a husband, and a friend who cared about others," U.S. Rep. Bruce Westerman, R-District 4, told the gathered crowd.
Westerman introduced the bill nearly a year ago to rename the post office, located at 620 Central Ave., Suite 1A, as the Chief Petty Officer Adam Brown United States Post Office. The bill was passed by the House and Senate this summer and signed into law July 29. At the ceremony, held by the U.S. Postal Service in Horner Hall at the Hot Springs Convention Center, Westerman was joined by Republican U.S. Sens. John Boozman and Tom Cotton of Arkansas, who had both supported the bill.
"I thought it was great his family could be here and both senators were able to come," Westerman told The Sentinel-Record after the ceremony, acknowledging Brown's parents, Larry and Janice Brown, his wife, Kelley, and children, Nathan and Savannah.
"This is a story that never gets old telling. I have had several members of Congress come up to me and say, 'Aren't you from Hot Springs, Arkansas? I read this great book. You've heard about Adam Brown, haven't you?'," he said, referring to The New York Times best-selling book, "Fearless," about Brown's sacrifices and struggles.
"It's a heart-touching story. And I know we already had the statue in his honor which is fantastic, but I want people to understand who he was as a father and son and husband and follower of Christ."
Shawn Bernard, lead pastor of Crossgate Church of Hot Springs, who led the invocation, said, "When it comes to what it means to be fearless, selfless and willing to lay die your life for the sake of others, I can think of no other person more deserving to honor the memory of than Adam Brown."
David Camp, Arkansas district manager for the U.S. Postal Service, said they have dedicated several post offices "honoring men and women who fought for our freedom." He noted, "This is a history-making moment for us and for you as well and it's an honor to be part of it."
Westerman told the crowd Kelley Brown had asked him if they meant to plan the event for the 24th, since 24 was his number in high school, and he told her that was just how it worked out. "She said things don't just happen by chance," he said. "It's very special that it happened to fall on the 24th of October."
Westerman quoted the famous epitaph, used on many military memorials, which states: "When you go home, tell them for us and say, for their tomorrows we gave our today." He said, "I think of Adam and others who gave all. Who gave their tomorrows with friends and family so we could have our todays. What a challenge it is to make the most of our todays when we understand the price that was paid so we could enjoy today as free men and women."
He said Brown "was a man who faced obstacles in life, but by the mercy and grace of God overcame those obstacles to become a better man and serve others. Renaming a post office may seem like a routine thing, but actually it's a pretty big deal. It literally requires an act of Congress to rename a post office."
He said when children ask about the post office, "You can tell them as I've told my children and hope to someday tell my grandchildren that Adam was a young man much like many others who grew up in Garland County and went to Lake Hamilton High School. He enjoyed playing football and life in general. He struggled with addiction, but he had a family and a loving savior that wouldn't give up on him. He experienced God's mercy and got a second chance."
Boozman said he grew up in Fort Smith where he attended William O. Darby Junior High School, named for the founder of the U.S. Army Rangers, and even many years after being a student there, "I can still tell you all about him" and "what a truly special person he was."
He said it's important for young people who go in the Adam Brown Post Office and who ask their parents, "Who's this guy?" to "understand what Adam was all about. He was truly a hero. Not only for his heroic deeds on the battlefield, but also the way he lived his life, loved his family, loved the Lord and loved his country."
Boozman said everyone needs to think of the "true sacrifices" made by the families of military members. "Not only those serving in the military, the mom or dad, but the families when mom or dad is away for an extended period of time. All the sacrifices they make. It truly is a family endeavor."
Cotton said he was "vaguely aware" of Brown's story after he was killed in Afghanistan, especially since he had just returned from there less than a year prior to Brown's death on March 17, 2010. But it wasn't until he read "Fearless," given to him by Larry Brown in 2013, that he was fully aware.
"It moved me deeply. Most of the people in my family have read it. It gives us so many reasons to remember and celebrate Adam's legacy," he said.
"Not many people get to wear that uniform and for those sailors who get to wear it, not many get to be a Navy SEAL and even among those elite Navy SEALs, not many of them get to be a member of the elite Team Six. But we all get a chance to be good citizens. Good men and women. Good husbands. Good wives. Good sons and daughters. We celebrate his legacy there even more so because we can all learn from it."
Cotton said, "We celebrate Adam not in spite of his struggles with addiction, but because of them. Because he overcame so much in his life to be such a great American hero. America is the land of second chances and new beginnings and Adam is someone we can hold up no matter how hard times become in our lives. If you're behind you can catch up, if you're lost, you can be found. Like Adam Brown was, found by his family, found by God and found by the U.S. Navy."
Kelley Brown said her husband "did overcome a lot of things and it was amazing. I'm proud of him in so many different ways. What I like to remember about Adam is that he was fearless, not so much on the battlefield, but in the way he loved his God. Fearless in how he loved his family. Fearless as a father and fearless as a son and husband.
"He was not afraid to show his compassion towards people and not afraid to fight the enemy when it came knocking at the door. So I have many reasons to be proud of my husband. This is a very special day and I'm honored my kids are here to see this."
She said Adam's story "is a story about redemption. One that only God can give us." She said she wanted to thank the "fearless" communities of Lake Hamilton and Hot Springs "who have embraced us in so many special ways."
After the ceremony, Larry Brown said, "We are so appreciative of what everyone has done. It was beautiful and it was done in a very good way." He noted he has known Westerman for many years and "he's just really helped us. We've been really blessed by the whole community. Standing behind us and helping us. I'm very grateful."
Local on 10/25/2016