Little Rock - On this day in 1776--the continental congress signed a declaration freeing the country from Great Britain.

These days we celebrate the occasion with cookouts, fireworks, festivals, and of course paying tribute to our armed forces.
Especially those who paid the ultimate sacrifice--for the freedoms all Americans enjoy.


(Rob Hopper, Arkansas Fallen Heroes Memorial) "It's hard to believe... ...which one of it was."
But that is exactly what Rob Hopper feels every day of every month of every pride and sadness. His two sons served in Iraq (web | news) . Only one came home alive.

(Hopper) "When I saw...which one it was."
It was his youngest-- twenty-one year old Lance Corporal Brian Hopper. The first Marine to set foot in Fallujah died in January of 2005.

(Hopper) "He was proud of... Proud of  him."

Brian's death inspired Rob to start Arkansas Fallen Heroes Memorial. He goes around the state and honors every Arkansas soldier whose died in the military since September 11th.

(Hopper) "Everyone of them and what they did for us."

Rob says for some reason the flags and the pictures make him feel closer to Brian.


(Hopper) "Just to know... ...in what he was doing."

But he admits it's still hard. He feels his son's loss everyday. But he says sometimes everyday objects that remind him of Brian make him emotional and he feels something other than the usual sadness and prided--somehow they give him hope.

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