The group stood at attention before its leaders, lined up in order, the most advanced at the front.
“Now that you’ve been promoted to a higher rank, you’re responsible for those below you,” one of its leaders, John Prinkey, told the group of Meadville Martial Arts Academy students.
Part of those responsibilities, according to instructor and third-degree black belt Prinkey and his partner, master black belt Ray Eger, is practicing — and living — according to a set of “articles of faith”:
“Be loyal to your country” is one.
“Be obedient to your parents” is another, as is “Never retreat in battle.”
And for 5-year-old Anthony Santiago, those words may well prove to be more than concepts to keep in mind at karate class.
He was awarded his yellow belt in martial arts from the academy recently, only days before his father, Staff Sgt. Erasmo Santiago, leaves home in Meadville for his second one-year tour of duty in Iraq.
“Listen to your mom,” Erasmo told his son after congratulating him on receiving the belt. And “help her,” he said.
A member of the U.S. Army Reserve, Santiago serves with the Altoona-based 298th Maintenance Co. As its name suggests, the company will provide maintenance support for other armed forces units stationed in the country, which saw more violence from insurgents Sunday as voters took part in an election that many hope will put Iraqis on a path toward national reconciliation while the U.S. prepares to withdraw combat forces.
Asked why he’s volunteered to serve, Erasmo simply said in his opinion, “it’s something we have to do.”
For Erasmo, the upcoming tour means another year away from home and family: Anthony (his only son); his wife, Katie; 11-year-old Alisa; 10-year-old Sydney; 2-year-old Eliana; and 3-week-old Leah. He said he hopes he’ll get to come home on leave sometime during his tour “if they’ll allow us. It all depends on the situation” the U.S. forces face in coming months.
His first 12-month tour was in 2005-06.
The children “are used to it, as sad as that may sound,” said Katie. “You just tell them (what’s happening), and wait for him to come back.”
Eger and Prinkey made the recent belt-awarding ceremony a time for all the academy’s students and their families to honor the Santiagos. ‘Thank you to the Santiago family for your service and dedication to our country’ was decorously written on an American flag-themed cake they had made for the occasion.
“It’s going to be a while before he sees his boy again, so we wanted it to be a special day,” Eger said.
“Thank you, sir,” he added, bowing in respect to the sergeant. “We appreciate everything you’ve done.”
Ryan Smith can be reached at 724-6370 or by e-mail at rsmith@meadvilletribune.com.
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