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Playground dedicated to soldier killed in Iraq
By ALEXANDRA CALDWELL
Article published on Wednesday, June 18, 2008 |
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![[Image]](/content_images/061808_cit-01.jpg) |
| Photo by ALEXANDRA CALDWELL |
| From left, Capt. Andrew Lynch, Pascual Huerta, Maria Huerta-Cruz and Humberto Huerta-Cruz stand by the plaque dedicating a playground to Arturo Huerta-Cruz. Lynch was Arturo’s commander who was with him when Arturo was killed by an explosive device in Iraq. |
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CLEARWATER – Exactly two months ago, chemical operations specialist Arturo Huerta-Cruz died in Iraq from an improvised explosive device.
On June 14, a playground in his neighborhood was built and dedicated to him. Huerta-Cruz, 23, of Clearwater, served with the 10th Brigade Support Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team, in the 10th Mountain Division based out of Fort Drum in New York.
Community members from Clearwater and neighboring cities volunteered to construct the playground and complete the landscaping all in a morning. The playground is at Ross Norton Recreation and Aquatic Complex at 1426 S. Martin Luther King Jr. Ave.
The neighborhood children had selected the equipment they wanted for their playground and a California-based organization, Let Them be Kids donated the equipment. Clearwater will donate the equipment from the old playground down the street back to the organization which will refurbish it and build a park in another country, said Clearwater’s vice-mayor, George Cretekos.
Robert Ovalle, principal of Belleair Elementary in Clearwater, served on the playground committee and helped build the playground June 14.
“This is where my kids live. This is where my kids play. So what better way to give my time back to the community?” Ovalle said. “. . . I think (the playground) is important
to the community because they have some ownership. It’s their playground. They’re out here sweating with us.”
Michelle Habar, a Clearwater resident who teaches at Belleair Elementary, helped landscape the playground. She said she decided to help because she respects and supports people in the military and because she wants to help kids.
“There’s never enough places for our kids to spend their free time and stay out of trouble,” Habar said.
Arturo’s family said they’re grateful to the city and volunteers for the park and for naming it after Arturo. Roger Cruz, Arturo’s cousin, said there are not enough words to express his feelings of gratefulness for the park. It can’t bring his cousin back, but Cruz is glad to have a place named in honor of Arturo, and he plans to take his children there, who are 4 and 2 years old.
“I think this is special because my cousin, he liked kids,” Cruz said. “He enjoyed being with them, and this is like a gift from God because what else can you ask for? Kids are going to come here and be happy.”
Cruz fondly remembers running and playing with Arturo on a river path in Mexico where they were born. He’s proud of his cousin for being one of the first in the family to earn a degree and serve in the military. Arturo had earned an associate’s degree in architectural design and construction technology from St. Petersburg College before he joined the Army. Although the family worried about him serving, Cruz said they supported his decision.
Still, sometimes Cruz forgets his cousin is really gone.
“It’s hard,” Cruz said. “We never thought it could happen to us, and it’s hard to believe. I look at his picture sometimes and think it can’t be. It’s not true. But we have to face reality. It’s going to take time, I think. It’s a process. But we’re taking it day by day.”
With Cruz translating, Arturo’s mother, Maria Huerta-Cruz, and his father, Pascual Huerta, said they thank the city for naming the park for their son and that he was proud to serve this country. Maria said her son loved the freedoms the United States offers, such as the freedom of speech.
At the dedication ceremony, U.S. Rep. Bill Young presented Arturo’s brother, Humberto Huerta-Cruz, 18, a flag that was flown over the nation’s capitol. This flag now flies over the playground. U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis also spoke respectfully of Arturo and said playgrounds are important to children’s development.
Captain Andrew Lynch, of the Army was Arturo’s company commander and was with him when he died. Lynch lost an eye in the explosion and drove to Florida immediately after being released from the hospital to attend the dedication ceremony.
“Many of us boast a characteristic or two that sets us apart from others,” Lynch said. “But in Arturo’s case, there’s a long list of positive qualities that make him simply the best soldier that I have served with in eight years of service and three combat deployments.”
Lynch said Arturo was the epitome of a true soldier and that his friends and soldiers miss him.
“I hope you know what Arturo meant to his unit, to his army, and to his military friends,” Lynch said. “As we go forward in life, I know that Arturo is watching over my soldiers, just as he is watching over your family, and I know that Arturo will be here watching over these children on this playground.”
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Article published on Wednesday, June 18, 2008
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