Remembering a 21st century war hero

In case you didn’t know, there is a museum here in Poplar Bluff. It has tales of us, our family, and our history. I want to tell you some of those tales found within the museum walls.

The young men and women of Poplar Bluff and Butler County have been fighting two wars in Iraq and Afghanistan for ten years. They have come home with Bronze Stars and Purple Hearts but they have always come home. But just because you’re not in a combat zone doesn’t mean you’re out of harms way.

Eric Summers graduated Poplar Bluff High School in 1999. After attending Three Rivers College he joined the Marines. Eric became an Explosive Ordinance Disposal Technician (EOD). After 13 years in the Marines, Eric had become a staff sergeant. He additionally completed five combat tours. He came home safe and sound. Staff Sgt. Summers was stationed at Camp Pendelton California. He and three other Marines were conducting a routine, but dangerous, range maintenance operation. They were disposing of unexploded ordinance, a typical day for EOD. For some reason, the ordinance exploded killing all four Marines, Eric included.

Eric was the first military loss Poplar Bluff experienced since Vietnam. When Eric landed in St. Louis with a Marine honor guard, he was met by an army of law enforcement to escort him home. His funeral route was lined with 2,380 American flags. Hundreds of people lined the route in freezing weather holding signs: “We Love You Eric.” Freedom Riders, Patriot Riders and every law enforcement organization escorted Eric along the route. After a military funeral, Eric was laid to rest in the “green, green grass of home.” Poplar Bluff grieved.

Since that day, a portion of Highway 67 was named “Eric Summers Highway” honoring our fallen hero. Staff Sgt. Summers portrait was also included in the VA “Wall of Valor” and the Poplar Bluff Museum “Hall of Heroes.” The week-long tribute to Staff Sgt. Summers in the DAR is on display in the Kanell Hall Veterans Museum located in the Poplar Bluff Museum.

The Museum is handicap accessible and open every Sunday free of charge from 1pm to 4pm at 1010 Main Street, Poplar Bluff (Formerly the Old Mark Twain School). Tell them Mike sent you!

Mike Shane is a veteran, Poplar Bluff resident and board member for the Poplar Bluff Museum.