REMEMBERING THOSE WHO SERVED
Killed during the 9/11 attack on the Pentagon, Lt. Col. Stephen Hyland Jr., who previously served at Fort Shafter, now has a street named for him on the post's scenic Palm Circle.
Permanent honors Stephen N. Hyland Sr. brushed his fingers over a granite plaque after uniformed officials unveiled a memorial stone and street sign on Fort Shafter's landmark Palm Circle that pays tribute to his son who was killed on Sept. 11, 2001, at the Pentagon.
The Army renames a street at
Ernie Enos recalls the aftermath of 2 atomic bombs
Fort Shafter for a popular
officer killed Sept. 11, 2001
Denby Fawcett writes about life as a war correspondentBy Rosemarie Bernardo
rbernardo@starbulletin.comLt. Col. Stephen Neil Hyland Jr., whom everyone called Neil, spent three years at Fort Shafter before his Pentagon assignment.
"He loved Palm Circle, and he loved what he was doing," said Hyland.
Family and friends wiped away tears as Army officials praised Hyland's son.
Col. Randell G. Stansfield, Neil Hyland's former supervisor, described his friend as a hero.
FL MORRIS / FMORRIS@STARBULLETIN.COM
Hyland's sisters, center from left, Catherine Hardy and Cheryl Hyland, sat with their father, Stephen Hyland Sr., during the dedication of a plaque in his memory, right.
"You used to laugh when I would tell you that you are now and shall ever remain my hero," said Stansfield.
Hyland Jr. worked at a building at C Street and Palm Circle Drive. Because C Street has been renamed Hyland Lane, "now everyone will know what you meant to us," Stansfield said.
Neil Hyland would have celebrated his 47th birthday yesterday.
He was the oldest of five children. He grew up on the East Coast and later moved to Claremont, Calif., and graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a degree in English. Hyland considered joining the priesthood but decided to enlist in the Army.
In 1997 he served as a personnel strength manager for U.S. Army Pacific before he became the adjutant general.
At the end of the ceremony, the 25th Infantry Division Band played the Notre Dame school song, honoring Hyland's memory.
The elder Hyland said his son had a gift to make others laugh.
"He made everybody laugh and never told a joke," he said.
"Knowing Neil, he would say, 'This is befitting of me,'" Hyland said with a laugh, referring to the memorial stone and street sign.
Hyland was joined by his two daughters, Cheryl Hyland and Catherine Hardy.
"I'm overwhelmed," said Hardy. "They brought back so many of the nice personal memories."
Both sisters laughed as Stansfield reminisced about their brother.
"When he wasn't working feverishly," the colonel said, "he declared himself the master of all he surveyed and the lord of Palm Circle."
Hardy said she knew what her brother would have said if he were there.
"He would have said, 'See, I truly am the Lord of Palm Circle.'"
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
