About Mark on Veteran's Day

This will without a doubt be the longest one of these things I'll ever do.  Please bear with me.

For several years I taught Police and Society at Metro CC to a group of juniors and seniors from the Papillion-LaVista high schools who participated in their Criminal Justice Academy.  The program gives students who are interested in local, state or federal law enforcement the opportunity to earn college credits while still in high school.  The classes were held outside of normal school hours, very early in the morning.  Because of this, many of my students were not fully awake during a good portion of my ramblings.

In my first year of teaching I had a baby-faced student named Mark.  He was the exception, and always came to class prepared and alert.  Unlike myself when I was his age, he was interested, courteous and respectful of authority.  Mark was a true pleasure to have in class and ended up earning an A (I still have the grade book).  He seemed unusually mature for his age, expressed an interest in becoming a police officer, and I remember hoping that he'd someday apply with our department.

For several years after that I didn't see much of Mark.  Then one day he shows up at my house with my daughter after they started dating.  By then he was in college and enrolled in the Army ROTC program.  Turns out that his grandfather (who served in the military) and 9/11 served as inspiration to join the Army.  After that I saw quite a bit of him.  He hadn't changed much.  He still looked very young and was always respectful and pleasant.  Mark was a great kid to have around and I never worried when my daughter was in his company.  We spent many a holiday clowning around in the family room.

A fews year later my wife and I attended his Army commissioning at Creighton.  I think it was Mark's and his family's proudest moment.  I had been there myself at one time and could relate.  His uniform was immaculate as the lieutenant's bars were pinned.  I remember thinking how young he still looked in that grown-up uniform.  Next thing we know he completes several training courses throughout the U.S. and gets orders to Afghanistan.  It's my understanding that Mark was barely unpacked when he volunteered to take a patrol for another officer who was not feeling well.  Several hours later on August 30, 2010 1st Lt. Mark Noziska was killed instantly when an IED was detonated by a faceless, gutless fanatic who may have masqueraded as one of the civilians that Mark was sent there to protect.  He was 24 years old.  I got married and my oldest daughter was born when I was 24 years old.

Mark was buried in Grand Island where he grew up as a child.  His funeral procession was one of the most incredible experiences of my life.  It seemed as though the entire population of 50,000+ lined the streets between the church and the cemetery to pay tribute.  No one in our car could stop crying.

Next time you head west on Lincoln Street from 84th look left about 5 blocks down the road.  There you'll see 1st Lt. Mark Noziska Lane.  Usually there are flowers and maybe a flag at the bottom of the pole.  I find that gratifying, because I know that someone else out there still thinks of him.

Having served on active duty and in the reserves for almost 25 years, I've attended countless Veteran's Day celebrations.  Most involve speeches, music and alot of flag waving.  I don't much like to attend that stuff anymore, although I do put out my flag --- for 1st Lt. Mark A. Noziska.

If you are feeling generous, please consider making a tax-deductible contribution to the Mark Noziska Scholarship Fund through the Papillion LaVista Schools Foundation, located at 242 West Grant Street.  Last I checked they almost had enough funding to provide for a perpetual scholarship.  I can't think of a better way to honor Mark and other veterans who have suffered loss.  Pretty soon this thing in Afghanistan will be over and there will be little evidence that our troops were ever there.  I sure hope Mark is remembered on many Veteran's Days for years to come.