From the high school in Lone Pine, to the courthouse in Independence, to City Hall in Bishop and even at the Big Pine High School Homecoming football game on Saturday (above), flags have been flying at half-mast throughout Inyo County in honor of U.S. Army Specialist Wayne Geiger of Lone Pine, who was killed in the line of duty Thursday in Iraq. He was 23. The flags serve as solemn reminders of the sacrifice Geiger made in the name of freedom, and as a sad tribute to a young man being called a hero by friends and strangers alike. Geiger was the first member of the armed forces from Inyo County killed in action in Iraq. More information about Specialist Geiger’s life and his untimely death will come in future issues.  Photo by Keith Rainville, 10-23-2007