53 Wisconsin residents that won't be at a barbecue this weekend

Wisconsin has lost fifty three soldiers in Iraq as of May 10th according to the Capital Times. They range in age from 18 to 43 years of age. The average age is just under 26 years old. They came from all parts of our state.

Marine Pfc. Ryan Jerabek died in April of the year he was 18 years old. The April I was 18 years old, I was looking forward to wrapping up my first year of college and the biggest decision I faced was whether or I would have more fun spending the summer at home with my old high school friends or stay in Madison with my new college friends. I can't even begin to imagine the daily decisions that Ryan faced while in Iraq. I can't imagine that I would have been mature enough to handle them.

Please take a moment between grilling out or swimming to read through and think about the soldiers below that will not be with their families this weekend. And say a silent thanks for those that are always willing to do what our country asks of them.

The soldiers are:

Army Sgt. Nathan J. Vacho, 29, of Janesville, died May 5, 2006.

Marine Lance Cpl. Eric A. Palmisano, 27, of Florence, died April 2, 2006.

Marine Lance Cpl. Adam J. VanAlstine, 21, of Superior, died Feb. 25, 2006.

Marine Sgt. Andy A. Stevens, 29, of Tomah, died Dec. 1, 2005

Army Pfc. Anthony Alex Gaunky, 19, of Sparta, died Nov. 18, 2005.

Army Spc. Benjamin A. Smith, 21, of Hudson, died Nov. 2, 2005.

Army Sgt. 1st Class Matthew R. Kading, 32, of Madison, died Nov. 1, 2005.

Army Spc. Michael Wendling, 20, of Mayville, died Sept. 26, 2005.

Army Sgt. Andy Wallace, 25, of Oshkosh, died Sept. 26, 2005.

Army Sgt. 1st Class Trevor J. Diesing, 30, of Plum City, died Aug. 25, 2005.

Marine Staff Sgt. Chad J. Simon, 32, of Monona, died Aug. 4, 2005.

Army Capt. Benjamin D. Jansky, 28, of Oshkosh, died July 27, 2005.

Army Spc. John O. Tollefson, 22, of Fond du Lac, died July 27, 2005.

Army Spc. Charles A. Kaufman, 20, of Fairchild, died June 26, 2005.

Marine Lance Cpl. John J. Mattek Jr., 24, of Stevens Point, died June 13, 2005.

Army Spc. Eric Poelman, 21, of Racine, died June 5, 2005.

Chief Warrant Officer Joshua Scott, 28, of Sun Prairie, died May 27, 2005.

Cpl. Mark Maida, 22, of Madison, died May 26, 2005.

Sgt. Andrew Bossert, 24, of Fountain City, died March 7, 2005.

Sgt. 1st Class Donald W. Eacho, 38, of Black Creek, died March 4, 2005.

Marine Lance Cpl. Travis M. Wichlacz, 22, of West Bend, died Feb. 5, 2005.

Staff Sgt. Todd Olson, 36, of Loyal, of the Wisconsin National Guard, died Dec. 26, 2004.

Marine Pfc. Brent Vroman, 21, of Omro, died Dec. 13, 2004.

Marine Lance Cpl. Richard D. Warner, 22, of Waukesha, died Dec. 13, 2004.

Marine Lance Cpl. Ryan Cantafio, 22, of Beaver Dam, died Nov. 25, 2004.

Marine Sgt. Benjamin Edinger, 24, of Green Bay, died Nov. 23, 2004.

Army Pfc. Isaiah Hunt 20, of Suamico, died Nov. 14, 2004.

Marine Cpl. Brian P. Prening, 24, of Sheboygan County, died Nov. 12, 2004.

Army Reserves Staff Sgt. Todd R. Cornell, 38, of West Bend, died Nov. 9, 2004.

Marine Cpl. Bobby Warns, 23, of Waukesha, died Nov. 8, 2004.

Marine Lance Cpl. Shane K. O'Donnell, 24, of DeForest, died Nov. 8, 2004.

Marine Lance Cpl. Daniel R. Wyatt, 22, of Racine, died Oct. 12, 2004.

Marine Pfc. Andrew Halverson, 19, of Muscoda, died Oct. 9, 2004.

Marine Cpl. Adrian V. Soltau, 21, of Milwaukee, died Sept. 13, 2004.

Army Staff Sgt. Stephen G. Martin, 39, of Rhinelander, died July 2, 2004.

Army Sgt. Charles Kiser, 37, of Cleveland, died June 24, 2004.

Army Spc. Michael McGlothin, 21, of Milwaukee, died April 17, 2004.

Spc. Michelle Witmer, 20, of New Berlin, with the Wisconsin National Guard's 32nd Military Police Company, died April 9, 2004.

Marine Cpl. Jesse Thiry, 23, of Casco, died April 6, 2004.

Marine Pfc. Ryan Jerabek, 18, of Hobart, died April 6, 2004.

Army Pfc. Sean Schneider, 22, of Janesville, died March 29, 2004.

Army Capt. John F. Kurth, 31, of Columbus, died March 13, 2004.

Spc. Bert E. Hoyer, 23, an Army reservist from Ellsworth, died March 10, 2004.

Pfc. Nichole M. Frye, 19, an Army reservist from Lena, died Feb. 16, 2004.

Maj. Christopher J. Splinter, 43, of Platteville, died Dec. 24, 2003.

Army Pfc. Rachel Bosveld, 19, of Waupun, died Oct. 26, 2003.

Army 2nd Lt. Jeremy L. Wolfe, 27, of Menomonie, died Nov. 15, 2003.

Army Spc. Eugene A. Uhl III, 21, of Amherst, died Nov. 15, 2003.

Army Sgt. Warren S. Hansen, 36, of Clintonville, died Nov. 15, 2003.

Army Spc. Paul J. Sturino, 21, of Rice Lake, died Sept. 22, 2003.

Army Reservist Dan Gabrielson, 40, of Frederic, died July 9, 2003.

Army Maj. Mathew Schram, 36, of Brookfield, died May 26, 2003.

Marine Sgt. Kirk Straseskie, 23, of Beaver Dam, died May 19, 2003.